KUCHING: Illegal miners, contraband dealers and illicit operators suffered a major setback as the General Operations Force (GOF) seized RM163.83 million worth of goods, machinery and other assets and arrested 35 people in a nine-day operation across Sarawak.
A total of 22 enforcement successes, recorded from Sept 1 to 9, were achieved through ‘Ops Taring Alpha’, ‘Bravo’, ‘Delta’, ‘Batas/Awas’, ‘Chiller’ and ‘Libas’, as well as ‘Ops Bersepadu Khazanah’.
Sarawak GOF Brigade commander SAC Datuk Lim Bak Phai said the operations targeted a range of offences, including the storage and sale of duty-not-paid cigarettes and liquor, illegal frozen food activities, diesel misappropriation, unlicensed mining, unauthorised timber processing and immigration offences.
“The biggest haul came from Bau, where ‘Ops Bersepadu Khazanah’ uncovered suspected unlicensed mineral mining activities.
“Two men were arrested, while various types of rocks, diesel, IBC tanks, heavy machinery and other equipment were seized. The total value of the haul was estimated at RM120.84 million.”
Aside from that, GOF also struck at the illegal frozen food trade under ‘Ops Taring Chiller’, recording four successes in Bintulu, Kuching and Lawas.
More than 692 tonnes of frozen products were seized, together with vehicles, forklifts and related equipment, with the total value estimated at RM27.14 million.
Under ‘Ops Taring Libas’, two operations in Kuching and Bintulu targeted the unauthorised processing and collection of timber.
Lim stated that the raids resulted in the seizure of timber, vehicles, heavy machinery and various processing equipment worth an estimated RM11.40 million.
Meanwhile, ‘Ops Taring Alpha’ recorded 11 successes in Miri, Julau, Kota Samarahan, Bintulu, Kuching and Kapit against the storage and sale of untaxed cigarettes and liquor.
GOF seized 6,980 cartons of cigarettes and more than 17,000 litres of liquor, along with vehicles – all of which are valued at RM3.41 million.
“The operation on diesel-related offences also paid off, with ‘Ops Taring Batas/Awas’ in Serian and ‘Ops Taring Bravo’ in Kuching resulting in the seizure of 16,000 litres of diesel, vehicles, storage tanks, a skid tank, three heavy machinery units, a fuel pump and other related equipment.
“The combined value of the seizures was estimated at RM1.04 million.”
Separately, ‘Ops Taring Delta’ resulted in the arrest of 11 foreign men, aged between 20 and 41, at a quarry site in Bau.
They were detained for allegedly entering Malaysia through an unauthorised route without valid travel documents or permits and are believed to have been working as general labourers at the site.
Lim said all those arrested and the seized items had been handed over to the relevant departments and agencies for further actions under the law.
