KUCHING: The General Operations Force (GOF) thwarted three separate smuggling attempts this month, seizing controlled goods worth over RM640,000.
Sarawak GOF Brigade Commander SAC Lim Bak Phai said the operations were conducted by the GOF 11th and 10th Battalions in Biawak, Bau and Sri Aman.
The first case was on Aug 13 when a team inspected two lorries at an oil palm plantation in Biawak, near the Malaysia-Indonesia border.
Two Indonesian men, aged 30 and 34, were arrested after checks uncovered 1,416 sacks of onions for which there were no valid documents and permits.
“The onions together with the lorries were seized with an estimated value of RM322,300,” he said.
Both the suspects and seizures were handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDN) Sarawak for further action.
The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Section 26(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Lim said the second case happened on Aug 9 when the GOF team stopped a lorry in Bau suspected of carrying rice without a permit.
“A 41-year-old local man was detained after inspections led to the seizure of 3,500kg of rice, together with the vehicle. The estimated market value was RM183,000,” he said.
The case was referred to the Paddy and Rice Regulatory Authority Kuching branch for further investigation under the Control of Paddy and Rice Act 1994.
Meanwhile, on Aug 4, the GOF team intercepted a Toyota Hilux in Sri Aman and arrested two local men, aged 51 and 52, for suspected misuse and smuggling of petroleum gas.
“Thirty gas cylinders of various brands were found inside the vehicle. Both the cylinders and the Hilux, valued at RM135,400, were seized,” he said.
Lim stated that the case was handed over to Sri Aman district police headquarters (IPD) and Ministry of Utility and Communications for further action under the Section 20(8) of the Gas Distribution Ordinance 2016 and Section 23 of the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987.
