Malaysian man held for smuggling ketum leaves into Thailand

Thailand Police have arrested a Malaysian man and recovered 80 slabs of 'ketum' leaves weighing 15kg from his

car.

The 31-year-old man was arrested and the drug seized from the boot of the car at the Betong immigration centre in Yala yesterday evening, said Pattani Police deputy chief Police Lieutenant Piyawat Khuangsri.

He said it was believed that the man was smuggling the drug from Baling for drug pedlars in Thailand.

The man had smuggled ketum leaves into Thailand through Betong on several occasions, he added.

Piyawat said the man was being held at the Betong police station pending prosecution.