SARAWAK GOF SEIZES OVER RM6 MILLION WORTH OF CONTRABAND IN SERIES OF OPERATIONS

KUCHING, May 13 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) has made nine significant seizures in a series of three operations codenamed Op Taring Alpha, Op Taring Bravo, and Op Taring Awas, confiscating contraband goods valued at over RM6 million.

Sarawak Brigade GOF deputy commander ACP Rosdi Inai said the seizures involved various non-taxable goods and goods without valid permits, across a spectrum of daily consumables like LPG gas, cigarettes, liquor, controlled goods, frozen products and foodstuff.

The largest seizure occurred in Miri on May 7, when the GOF 12th Battalion intelligence team raided a storage facility, seizing 7,400 cartons of white cigarettes, 3,160 cartons of kretek cigarettes, and 201 cartons of liquor.

“Three individuals, including an Indonesian national aged between 26 and 29, were arrested. The total value of the seizure was estimated at RM3.09 million,” Rosdi said in a statement today.

The second success came on May 11 in Kuching, where a 25-year-old local man was arrested, and 2,848 cartons of cigarettes valued at RM1.01 million were seized.

The third success took place on May 10 in the Lundu district, where three men aged between 39 and 45 were arrested with 16,200 kg of onions without permits. The seizure was valued at RM924,000.

The fourth success on May 7 saw the arrest of a 49-year-old local man in Bau district, and the seizure of 5,000 kg of frozen meat without valid permits, and a lorry worth RM385,000.

The fifth success occurred on May 10 in Lundu, where a 45-year-old local man was arrested with a lorry carrying 4,182 kg of cooking oil without a valid permit. The seizure was valued at RM228,855.80.

The sixth success was recorded on May 8 in Debak, when a 40-year-old local man was arrested with 1,260 litres of petrol, 750 litres of diesel, and 20 LPG cylinders suspected of being diverted. The seizure was estimated at RM211,545.50.

The seventh success came the same day at the Tebedu-Kalimantan border, where 244 cartons of white cigarettes were discovered hidden in the bushes, valued at RM166,408.

In the eighth success on May 9 in Lundu, a 19-year-old local man was arrested with 1,428 kg of cooking oil without a valid permit, and a four-wheel drive vehicle was seized, valued at RM69,853.20.

The ninth success occurred on May 5 at the Lubok Antu border, where a 59-year-old Indonesian man was arrested attempting to smuggle 100 kg of cooking oil and 20 kg of rice through an ungazetted road. The seizure was valued at RM7,480.

Rosdi added that all seizures and arrests have been handed over to the relevant authorities, including the police (PDRM), Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Veterinary Department, and Immigration Department for further action.

-- BERNAMA