{
  "id": 10478364,
  "title": "Two men held on NSE with 690kg ketum leaves in car",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/two-men-held-on-nse-with-690kg-ketum-leaves-in-car",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T15:49:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/09/1543392/two-men-held-nse-690kg-ketum-leaves-car"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "IPOH police have apprehended two men after discovering a staggering 690kg of ketum leaves concealed within their vehicle on the North-South Expressway (NSE) southbound near Km371. Superintendent Khalid Mohamad of the Muallim district police revealed that the suspects, aged 21 and 31, were apprehended by a Highway Patrol team from Sectors 7 and 8, Northern Zone 4, as well as the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (TEID) around 2am yesterday. The two individuals, apparently acting as runners for the local market, were allegedly trafficking the illicit substance. Upon inspecting the Toyota Alphard, officers found 69 black plastic packages containing the suspected ketum leaves, totaling an estimated 690kg with a market value of approximately RM27,600. The vehicle and a remote-control key were seized for further investigation. Preliminary checks indicated that the first suspect had a prior drug-related offense and five criminal offenses, while the second suspect had two drug-related offenses and one criminal offense. Both suspects are currently being detained to aid the ongoing investigation under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.",
  "summary": "IPOH: Two men were arrested after allegedly possessing 690kg of ketum leaves in a car at Km371 of the North-South Expressway (NSE) southbound early yesterday.",
  "key_points": [
    "Police arrest two men with 690kg ketum leaves on NSE.",
    "Suspects, 21 and 31 years old, caught near Km371.",
    "Vehicle and key seized for investigation under Poisons Act."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}