KUCHING: The General Operations Force (GOF) seized more than RM600,000 worth of frozen food and vehicles in four separate raids across Tebedu, Lundu, and Bau this month.
Sarawak GOF Brigade Commander SAC Lim Bak Phai said the operations, carried out under Op Taring Batas/Awam between Sept 17 and 23, led to the arrests of five men, including a foreign national, for attempting to smuggle frozen products without valid documents and permits.
“On Sept 17, the GOF 23rd Battalion in Sri Aman intercepted an MPV around Tebedu and arrested a 38-year-old foreign man. A total of 8,000kg of meat and 800 packets of frozen sausages were seized, along with the vehicle, valued at RM73,280,” he said in a statement.
Lim said that two days later, the GOF 11th Battalion in Kuching stopped a lorry in Lundu and detained a 41-year-old local man. The team seized 2,400 kilograms of frozen meat worth RM46,800, together with the lorry, bringing the total value to RM182,800.
“Meanwhile, on Sept 22, another raid by the GOF 11th Battalion in Kuching resulted in the arrest of a 25-year-old local man in Bau. Authorities seized 5,000kg of frozen meat worth RM110,800, and a lorry valued at RM150,000, with the combined seizure amounting to RM260,800,” he said.
He added that the following day, the GOF 23rd Battalion in Sri Aman arrested two local men, aged 50 and 58, during an operation in Tebedu.
“A total of 287kg of frozen meat worth RM11,935 were seized, along with a van and a car valued at RM80,000, bringing the total seizure to RM91,935,” he said.
Those arrested and confiscated goods were handed over to the respective district police headquarters and veterinary divisions for further investigation under the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, and in some cases, the Road Transport Act 1987.
