KUALA LUMPUR: Police have dismantled a ketum distribution ring after they arrested 11 men during a raid in Taman Tan Yew Lai last week.
The raiding party also seized more than 1.3 tonnes of ketum leaves and 50 litres of codeine cough syrup, worth more than RM60,000, when they arrested suspects, aged between 27 and 47.
Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood said the authorities were initially alerted when motorcycle patrol units observed some acting suspiciously at around 8.50 pm along Jalan Tan Yew Lai.
"They approached a group of men in front of a shoplot and found that they were in the process of unloading ketum leaves and bottles of codeine from a lorry.
"Upon further checks, we seized 1,347kg of ketum and 50litres of codeine cough syrup," he told reporters on Monday.
He said initial investigations revealed the ketum and codeine were worth RM63,880.
"We believe the syndicate received its supply from a man from a neighbouring country in the north.
"They are believed to have replenished their supplies once a week," he said adding that investigations revealed that the group worked as a distribution ring.
He said checks also revealed that six of the 11 arrested had prior drug records.
"They have all been remanded until Nov 22 to facilitate further investigations," he said.
Those with information on drug activities here should contact the Brickfields police at 03-2297 9222 at extension 553.