KOTA KINABALU: In a series of coordinated raids across seven Sabah districts, authorities arrested sixteen individuals and seized RM4.57mil worth of frozen food without valid documentation.
Among the products seized were frozen chicken, duck, beef, fish and squid.
The joint operation on Saturday was conducted by the General Operations Force (GOF) together with officers from the Sabah Veterinary Services Department and the Health Ministry.
Sabah GOF brigade commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias said they targeted locations in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Keningau, Sandakan, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Semporna, following weeks of intelligence gathering by the Sabah GOF Brigade Intelligence Unit.
The raids were code named Taring Chiller.
“We arrested 16 individuals; 11 men and four women,” he said in a statement yesterday.
All of them were locals except for an Indonesian man.
“The operators were found not to have complied with the various requirements relating to food storage.”
He said the operation was to ensure that consumers obtained a safe and proper supply of frozen food.
Based on initial investigations, Abdul Rani said there were multiple offences committed under the state’s Section 15(1) of the Animal Enactment 2015, the Food Act, Regulation 38(1)(G) of the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009 and Regulation 38(1) of the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.
