BACHOK: Seven men were arrested for gathering and drinking ketum juice to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri last night.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Shafien Mamat said the seven, all in their 30s, were high on ketum juice when they were arrested during a raid in Kampung Tempoyak near Kadok here.
"A police party raided a house in the village at about 11pm following a public tip-off. At the house, police saw seven men and all of them were in the middle of having the ketum drink.
"The men told the police that they have gathered at the house to celebrate Hari Raya," he told reporters after inspecting preparations at Kampung Pauh Lima which would be placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
Shafien said the seven had violated two offences under Movement Control Order and the Poisons Act 1952.
"They have been issued with a compound of RM5,000 for holding a gathering during the MCO and are now detained for consuming the ketum juice."
On the EMCO, Shafien said police have set up 10 roadblocks to prevent nearly 1,000 villagers from leaving and entering Kampung Pauh Lima in Bachok and Kampung Pauh Lima in in Kota Baru.
"More than 100 policemen will be manning the roadblocks which will begin at midnight."
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said that the two localities in Kelantan would come under EMCO from tomorrow until June 1.
He had said the Health Ministry had held 227 screenings in both localities and 74 individuals were tested positive for Covid-19.