KUCHING: More than RM570,000 worth of subsidised diesel, sugar, cooking oil, and equipment were seized by the General Operations Force (GOF) in two separate raids in Simunjan and Serian last week.
Sarawak GOF Brigade Commander SAC Lim Bak Phai said the operations, carried out by the 23rd Battalion in Sri Aman, led to the arrests of four local men for allegedly storing and selling subsidised controlled goods without valid documents and permits.
He said in the first case, under Op Taring Bravo on Sept 24, the battalion’s intelligence branch raided a tanker in Simunjan and arrested three men, aged between 25 and 54.
“Further inspection led to the seizure of 13,000 litres of subsidised diesel and 12 IBC fuel tanks. A tanker was also confiscated,” he said in a statement.
The seized items were valued at RM406,400, comprising RM36,400 for the diesel, RM120,000 for the tanks, and RM250,000 for the vehicle, based on market value.
Lim said that the following day on Sept 25, under the Op Taring Batas/Awas, another raid was conducted on a premises in Serian, where a 57-year-old man was arrested.
“Authorities seized 2,400 kilograms of raw sugar, 1,500kg of refined sugar, and 750kg of subsidised cooking oil. A forklift was also confiscated,” he said.
The seizure was valued at RM164,100, including RM12,000 for the sugar, RM2,100 for the cooking oil, and RM150,000 for the forklift.
All arrests and confiscated items were handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Serian for further action and investigation under Sections 21 and 22 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
