Kota bharu: The General Operations Force (GOF) foiled attempts to smuggle migrants and goods, and to illegally obtain subsidised petrol, under Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan near the Malaysia-Thailand border yesterday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Southeast Brigade GOF commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain stated that the operation was conducted by the 7th Battalion from 7 am to 6 pm, involving arrests and seizures related to the smuggling of undocumented migrants, misuse of identity documents, and an attempt to smuggle subsidised controlled goods into Thailand.
The first case saw the detention of five Myanmar nationals, comprising three men and two women, in front of Masjid Beijing in Rantau Panjang at about 7 am. They were suspected of attempting to enter the country illegally. Checks revealed that the identity documents they presented appeared suspicious. All the undocumented migrants were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while a boatman was detained under Section 26(j) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007. Seized items included a Toyota Wish vehicle, two mobile phones, and cash, with the total value estimated at RM42,334.
In the second case, a man was apprehended for attempting to use another individual's identity card to purchase subsidised Budi95 petrol at a petrol station in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, around 11 am. He was detained under Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990, and two Malaysian identity cards were seized.
Ahmad Radzi also mentioned a third case that involved the arrest of a man in Kampung Tasik Berangan, Jeram Perdah, Pasir Mas, at approximately 4.30 pm for allegedly attempting to smuggle subsidised controlled goods into Thailand. Police seized a Nissan Vanette van and 733 packets of cooking oil, with the total value estimated at RM31,916.50. This case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
Separately, the GOF thwarted an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes worth RM175,170 in two raids under Op Taring Alpha 1 around Kuala Besut in Jertih yesterday.