JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested 17 people including an Indonesian woman for processing and selling ketum leaves and juice in a series of raids last week.

       Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said three civil servants aged between 32 and 42 were also detained for consuming ketum juice.

       He said the raids were conducted from Aug 27 to Sept 4 in Kota Tinggi, Kulai, Iskandar Puteri, Johor Baru and Tangkak.

       "A total of 542kg ketum leaves worth RM5,427 and 300 litres ketum juice worth RM3,008 were confiscated.

       "Also seized were paraphernalia to process the ketum juice," he said in a press conference at the state police headquarters here on Tuesday (Sept 7).

       Comm Ayub said the ketum leaves and juice were for the Johor market and could be consumed by 11,155 ketum addicts.

       "The supply came from the northern peninsula and was delivered by lorry which disguised them as essential items to avoid detection.

       "This is the ketum syndicates' modus operandi," he said.

       Comm Ayub said there had been an increasing demand for ketum which had driven the price up between RM30 to RM80 per kg and when processed, it could produce up to 15 litres of juice.

       He said a litre of ketum juice could fetch between RM15 and RM20 and was even sold online.

       The case is investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 for possession of a psychotropic substance.

       Under the Act, a person faces a maximum fine of RM10,000, a jail term of not more than four years or both, if found guilty.