Abdul Ghafar (centre) and his officers show ketum powder seized during an operation during a press conference at the Penang police contingent headquarters. — Bernama photo
GEORGE TOWN: Police uncovered a drug laboratory used to process ketum leaves and seized 2,838ks of ketum powder worth RM238,000 in a raid on a house in Datuk Keramat, here on Wednesday.
“A 33-year-old Bangladeshi man was nabbed while processing and packing the substance. The man with valid travel documents is being remanded until March 22,” said Penang police chief, Datuk Abdul Ghafar Rajab.
The laboratory at the two-storey house had been in operation for the past six years, he added.
Speaking at a press conference here yesterday, he said initial investigations revealed the ketum powder in one kilogramme packets, were for export to several countries including Indonesia, the United States, Canada and Ukraine.
“The powder is delivered by courier service and declared as traditional herbs,” he said.
Abdul Ghafar said police have identified the individuals involved in the operation and were tracking down a man linked to a ketum distribution syndicate.
“Police are also hunting for the laboratory’s ketum leaves supplier,” he said, adding that the 12.30pm raid was the result of information gathered from intelligence and the public since last week.
He said police also seized various equipment including a grinding machine, packaging machine and weighing scales.
“So far we have not found other drugs in the house and we are investigating whether other drugs were used in the ketum powder processing,” he said. — Bernama