KUALA PERLIS: The authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle 2.3 tonnes of ketum leaves and arrested two men believed to be ketum leaf mules.

       Ketum leaf mules refer to individuals who are involved willingly or tricked into carrying ketum leaves near the country’s territorial waters before the contraband is taken by smugglers to a neighbouring country.

       The smuggling attempt was foiled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone.

       Kedah and Perlis Maritime director First Admiral Mohd Zawawi Abdullah said a special team intercepted a fibre boat without a registration number at 7.55am on Saturday, about 1.5 nautical miles west of Sungai Padang beach.

       “Upon realising the presence of the MMEA, the suspects, aged 25 to 40, changed direction before jumping into the sea and swimming for the shore, where they were detained,” he told reporters here yesterday.

       According to Bernama, the MMEA found 230 black plastic packages believed to contain ketum leaves with an estimated value of RM414,000 in the storage compartment of the boat.

       A black bag containing two small white plastic packets suspected to contain 100 “pil kuda” was also found.

       “There were two small white plastic packets suspected to contain syabu weighing 1.72g and three small white plastic packets suspected to contain heroin weighing 1.47g on the rudder,” said Mohd Zawawi.

       He did not rule out the possibility that the smuggling was masterminded by a local syndicate that used “transporters” to take the ketum leaves to neighbouring countries.

       The total value of the seizure, including the boat, is estimated at RM537,305.