The police have detained a man in connection with the seizure of 20kg of ketum leaves (photo above) and a litre of ketum water at a roadblock in the Alor Gajah-Malacca-Jasin Highway early yesterday.

The ketum leaves in three black plastic packages and a bottle of the ketum water were found hidden in a vehicle driven by the 36-year-old suspect at 12.15am.

Alor Gajah police chief Supt A Asmadi Abdul Aziz said initial investigations revealed the power cable company employee had been allegedly involved in trafficking in ketum leaves and water in the state since 2011.

"We believe the suspect had just arrived in Malacca when he was detained. He had obtained the supply of ketum leaves worth about RM600 from Perak, to sell in Malacca,” Asmadi told a press conference in Alor Gajah today.

He said the man, from Teluk Intan, Perak, was believed to have been processing ketum leaves at his home in Bukit Rambai in Alor Gajah.

He sold ketum water at RM10 a bottle while the leaves fetched RM30 a kilo.

Asmadi said the suspect made a profit of RM2,000 per month by selling ketum leaves and water.

The man, who has four previous criminal records related to the sale of ketum leaves and water, was remanded for three days, beginning yesterday.

- Bernama