KOTA BARU: A man has been arrested on suspicion of smuggling various types of orchids and bromeliads estimated to be worth RM2mil.
General Operations Force (GOF) South-east Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Ab Hamid said the ornamental plants were believed to have been smuggled from Thailand and taken to Kampung Lubok Stol, Pasir Mas.
At 9.45pm on Saturday, under Ops Taring Wawasan, a GOF team intercepted a lorry that was driven in a suspicious manner.
Upon inspection, it was found that the plants had been brought into the country without valid documentation.
“The driver, a 35-year-old local man, is believed to have been transporting the plants for the local market.
“The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167) and the seized items were taken to the Rantau Panjang police station for further action,” he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.
He added that, on the same day, the GOF also dismantled a smuggling operation involving various ornamental plants, including the spiny fiddlewood (citharexylum spinosum) and Chinese juniper (juniperus chinensis) species, believed to have been smuggled from Thailand, in Kampung Kubang Rambutan, Rantau Panjang.
Nik Ros Azhan said at about 8pm, the team intercepted a lorry driven by a 32-year-old local man.
“Upon inspection, various types of ornamental plants, estimated to be worth RM510,000, were found to have been brought into the country without valid documentation for the local market.”
Nik Ros Azhan added that the case is being investigated under Section 5 of Act 167, and the suspect, along with the seized items, was taken to the Rantau Panjang police station for further action.
