KUCHING: The Sarawak General Operations Force (GOF) Brigade seized items worth RM40.39 million in 24 operations conducted across the state.
The operations were carried out in Lundu, Padawan, Bintulu, Miri, Kota Samarahan, Betong, Bau, Serian, Kuching and Sarikei.
Sarawak GOF commander SAC Lim Bak Phai said the operations were successful, involving personnel from various GOF battalions in conducting enforcement actions.
“In ‘Ops Taring Alpha’ , five arrests were made in four cases in Miri, Kota Samarahan, Sri Aman and Sarikei.
“The offences detected involved the storage and sale of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages that had not been cleared by Customs.
“During the operations, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, a lorry and two vehicles were seized, with the total value estimated at RM1.94 million.
“The cases are being investigated under the Customs Act 1967,” said Lim in a statement on Friday (Aug 14).
For ‘Ops Taring Bravo’, one arrest was made in Betong for diesel-related offences, including the storage of large quantities of diesel without valid documents or permits.
A total of 7,500 litres of diesel, two skid tanks, two cranes, multiple barrels and a fuel pump were seized, bringing the total value to RM1.15 million.
The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
Meanwhile, under ‘Ops Taring Chiller’, Lim said 12 arrests were made in Bintulu, Kota Samarahan, Kuching, Bau, Miri, Sibu, Sri Aman, Padawan and Serian.
“The offences involved the storage and distribution of chicken and other frozen products without valid permits.
“Our personnel seized about 573.85 tonnes of frozen products, including chicken, meat, fish, mutton, squid, crab and other items, as well as live chickens, cold storage equipment, forklifts, lorries and processing machinery and equipment.
“The total value of the seizure was RM33.97 million,” he said.
Lim added that the cases had been handed over to the Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) for further action and investigation under the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999.
Meanwhile, ‘Ops Taring Batas/Awas’ recorded three cases with nine arrests in Lundu, Bau and Serian, involving offences of crossing the Malaysian border without valid documents or permits.
Lim said the operations also uncovered controlled items that had been left by the roadsides.
“Nine mobile phones, two vehicles, 1,080 kilogrammes of sugar, six gas cylinders, 221 kilogrammes of cooking oil, and other controlled items were seized, with a total value of RM158,099.”
For ‘Ops Taring Libas’, three arrests were made in three cases in Padawan, Kuching and Kota Samarahan.
The cases involved timber processing and timber collection activities without valid documents and permits.
Lim said the seizure involved processed and unprocessed timber, forklifts, lorries, as well as processing machinery and equipment, bringing the total value to RM3.06 million.
The cases were handed over to the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) for further action under the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation Ordinance 1973.
“In ‘Ops Bersepadu Khazanah’, one arrest was recorded in Padawan for the offence of possessing and keeping protected wildlife species without valid documents or permits.
“Following further inspection, we seized 7.6086 kilogrammes of swiftlet nests and equipment used to process the nests, with a total value of RM125,548.80.
“The case was handed over to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) for further action under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998,” said Lim.
The Sarawak GOF commander assured that the force would continue to take comprehensive enforcement action through joint operations and intelligence efforts to ensure safety, public order and national interests are safeguarded.
