Sarawak: The Sarawak Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) has made nine significant seizures in a series of three operations codenamed Op Taring Alpha, Op Taring Bravo, and Op Taring Awas, confiscating contraband goods valued at over RM6 million.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sarawak Brigade GOF deputy commander ACP Rosdi Inai stated that the seizures involved various non-taxable goods and goods without valid permits, including daily consumables like LPG gas, cigarettes, liquor, controlled goods, frozen products, and foodstuff.
The largest seizure took place in Miri on May 7, when the GOF 12th Battalion intelligence team raided a storage facility, seizing 7,400 cartons of white cigarettes, 3,160 cartons of kretek cigarettes, and 201 cartons of liquor. Three individuals, including an Indonesian national aged between 26 and 29, were arrested, with the total value of the seizure estimated at RM3.09 million.
The second success occurred on May 11 in Kuching, where a 25-year-old local man was arrested, and 2,848 cartons of cigarettes valued at RM1.01 million were seized. The third success took place on May 10 in the Lundu district, where three men aged between 39 and 45 were arrested with 16,200 kg of onions without permits, valued at RM924,000.
The fourth success on May 7 involved the arrest of a 49-year-old local man in Bau district and the seizure of 5,000 kg of frozen meat without valid permits, along with a lorry worth RM385,000. The fifth success occurred on May 10 in Lundu, where a 45-year-old local man was arrested with a lorry carrying 4,182 kg of cooking oil without a valid permit, valued at RM228,855.80.
The sixth success was recorded on May 8 in Debak, where a 40-year-old local man was arrested with 1,260 litres of petrol, 750 litres of diesel, and 20 LPG cylinders suspected of being diverted, estimated at RM211,545.50. The seventh success was achieved the same day at the Tebedu-Kalimantan border, where 244 cartons of white cigarettes were discovered hidden in the bushes, valued at RM166,408.
In the eighth success on May 9 in Lundu, a 19-year-old local man was arrested with 1,428 kg of cooking oil without a valid permit, and a four-wheel-drive vehicle was seized, valued at RM69,853.20. The ninth success occurred on May 5 at the Lubok Antu border, where a 59-year-old Indonesian man was arrested attempting to smuggle 100 kg of cooking oil and 20 kg of rice through an ungazetted road, valued at RM7,480.
Rosdi added that all seizures and arrests have been handed over to the relevant authorities, including the police (PDRM), Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Veterinary Department, and Immigration Department for further action.