PADANG BESAR:Half of the amount of ketum leaves seized in Perlis is from three Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) schemes, namely Felda Rimba Mas, Felda Chuping and Felda Mata Ayer, said General Operations Force (GOF) 18th Battalion commanding officer Supt Abd Razak Md Din.

He said all three areas recorded the highest amount of seizures throughout the 18th Battalion's one-month deployment here.

"Smugglers have made the three Felda schemes as their centre for processing ketum leaves before distributing them to neighbouring countries as it provides them a lucrative income,” he told reporters here today.

He said that for the one-month duration of Ops Benteng, which began on Sept 1 and ended today, the GOF 18th Battalion of Pengkalan Hulu, Kroh seized 19.6 tonnes of ketum leaves with an estimated value of RM589,410.

Abd Razak said they also seized various types of vehicles and communication devices worth a total of RM716,980.

Bernama yesterday reported that Felda would take stern action, including taking legal action under the Land (Group Settlement Areas) Act 1960 to strip the settlers of their land ownership if they remain adamant and continue to plant ketum trees.

A total of 250 ketum trees in Felda Mata Ayer were chopped down in an integrated operation involving Felda, Police and the Department of Land and Mines Perlis yesterday and it would be expanded in stages to all Felda schemes in the state.

Perlis Police chief Datuk Surina Saad said they expect to chop down about 1,500 to 2,000 such trees in Felda Chuping and Felda Rimba Emas in the next one month.

She said such efforts would be able to curtail smuggling activities by 40 per cent once there is a shortage in the supply of ketum leaves.

-- BERNAMA