Sarawak GOF Seizes RM3.6 Mln in Smuggled Goods Under Op Taring

KUCHING, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Brigade of the General Operations Force (GOF) recorded 10 successful cases under ‘Op Taring’ from July 21 to Aug 1 across various locations in the state, involving seizures worth RM3.6 million.

Sarawak Brigade Commander SAC Dr Che Ghazali Che Awang said the largest haul occurred in Sibu on July 21, with the seizure of 783,040 sticks of untaxed cigarettes and 225 litres of liquor, valued at RM1.4 million. A 43-year-old local man was arrested in connection with the case.

He said on Aug 1 in Bau, four men were detained for attempting to smuggle 35,000 kg of Bombay onions and 1,400 kg of garlic without valid permits.

“Four lorries were also seized, with the total estimated value at RM1.13 million,” he said in a statement today. 

In other cases, the GOF seized 10,000 kg of imported sugar without permits in Lundu (RM350,000), 15,432 litres of subsidised diesel in Sematan (RM291,553.44), and 380 boxes of frozen food in Lundu (RM222,960), with multiple individuals arrested.

He said on July 31, a 67-year-old man was caught in Sri Aman with controlled goods like rice and cooking oil, while another elderly man in Debak was found transporting 580 litres of fuel.

Their seizures were valued at RM121,795.70 and RM111,815, respectively.

In two drug-related cases, ecstasy worth RM34,466.50 was found in an abandoned car near Kuching airport, and a man in Serian was arrested with methamphetamine and a Proton Wira with a fake number plate, totalling RM25,199.20 in seizures.

Che Ghazali said on July 23, a stolen Yamaha FZ105 motorcycle worth RM5,000 was recovered near the Malaysia-Indonesia border in Bau, adding that the operations demonstrated strong enforcement efforts against smuggling and criminal activities.

-- BERNAMA