KUALA PERLIS: An attempt to smuggle out some three million tonnes of ketum leaves turned into a high sea crash involving a luxury passenger boat.

       Two local ketum leaf smugglers in the boat rammed into a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) vessel in an attempt to escape the security agency at 5.8 nautical miles west of Kurung Tegar beach here.

       Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone director, Maritime Commander Mohd Hashim Mat Zain, said the suspects were handling the boat dangerously before ramming it into the MMEA’s enforcement boat at 6.50am.

       “The MMEA team detained the two men, aged 37 and 48, after the boat started taking in water due to serious damage to its prow from the impact.

       “Our team found 300 black plastic packages and 13 white plastic packages of what is believed to be ketum leaves weighing 3.2 tonnes, and worth RM576,000,” he was quoted by Bernama here yesterday.

       The suspects, he said, were believed to be trying to smuggle out the ketum leaves when the authorities put up a chase.

       Mohd Hashim said MMEA also seized three outboard motors worth RM380,000 and a fibreglass boat valued at RM180,000 during the incident.

       He said this was the first case of smugglers using a high-powered luxury passenger boat to dupe the enforcement authorities.

       “From the investigation, we found that the boat has been berthed at a neighbouring country and would only enter Malaysian waters to smuggle out ketum leaves.

       “This case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 for the misuse of ketum leaves for various purposes including importing, selling and processing,” he added.