GOF Foils Smuggling Attempts, Nabs Five Myanmar Nationals

KOTA BHARU, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- 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.

Southeast Brigade GOF commander SAC Ahmad Radzi HussaiKOTA BHARU, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- 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.n said the operation, carried out by the 7th Battalion from 7 am to 6 pm, involved arrests and seizures related to the smuggling of undocumented migrants, misuse of identity documents and an attempt to smuggle subsidised controlled goods into Thailand.

He said the first case involved the detention of five Myanmar nationals — three men and two women — in front of Masjid Beijing in Rantau Panjang at about 7 am, believed to have been attempting to enter the country illegally.

“Checks found the identity documents produced to be 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.

“Also seized were a Toyota Wish vehicle, two mobile phones and cash, with the total value of the seizures estimated at RM42,334,” he said in a statement today.

He said the second case involved a man who attempted to use another individual’s identity card to buy subsidised Budi95 petrol at a petrol station in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, at about 11 am.

“The man was detained under Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990, and two Malaysian identity cards were also seized,” he said.

Ahmad Radzi said the third case involved the arrest of a man in Kampung Tasik Berangan, Jeram Perdah, Pasir Mas, at about 4.30 pm for allegedly attempting to smuggle subsidised controlled goods into Thailand.

“Police also seized a Nissan Vanette van and 733 packets of cooking oil, with the total value of the seizures estimated at RM31,916.50. The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961,” he said.

Separately, he said the GOF also thwarted an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes worth RM175,170 in two raids under Op Taring Alpha 1 around Kuala Besut in Jertih yesterday.

-- BERNAMA