PASIR MAS, Jan 13: The 7th Battalion of the General Operations Force (GOF) has confiscated various smuggled goods worth RM4.2 million at the Malaysia-Thailand border through the COVID-19 Op Benteng starting from Dec 16.
The battalion commanding officer Supt Azhari Nusi said the goods were seized within 29 days of operations.
“Battalion 7, assisted by Battalion 9 detected 77 cases, made 67 arrests with a seizure value of RM4.2 million involving livestock, contraband goods, cosmetics, frozen chicken, various items of clothing, drugs, illegal immigrants and ketum.
“The highest (seizure value) involved the seizure of various vehicles worth RM2.1 million by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department,” he told reporters at the GOF tactical base in Lubok Setol, Rantau Panjang here today.
He said the latest case detected was yesterday where two separate arrests were made and 1,250 litres of petrol was confiscated believed to be smuggled to Thailand.
“A 31-year-old suspect was detained near a food stall in Rantau Panjang about 5 pm during a patrol mounted by GOF, enforcement officers of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) and the marine police.
“Upon checking the suspect’s vehicle, we found 625 litres of petrol stored in 25 containers,” he said.
He said fifteen minutes later the second suspect, aged 29, was arrested in Kampung Kubang Rambutan, Rantau Panjang.
“Prior to his arrest, the suspect who was driving a Proton Saga car was involved in an accident when he tried to escape on seeing the authorities and we found 625 litres of petrol in 25 plastic containers,” he added.
Investigation revealed that the suspect had two previous criminal records under Section 26A Anti-Trafficking in Persons and
Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 and Section 7 (1) (a) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.
“Both the suspects who are locals obtained the petrol at the Pasir Mas Industrial area and it is believed to be smuggled to Thailand via an illegal jetty near Kampung Kubang Rambutan,” he said.
He said KPDNHEP would conduct a further investigation under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.- Bernama
