BERNAMA filepic
ALOR SETAR: The General Operations Force (GOF) has arrested 13 people for suspected involvement in illegal sand mining during raids at three separate locations in Kedah on Wednesday (May 14).
Northern Brigade GOF commander Senior Asst Comm Shahrum Hashim (pic) said the suspects, aged between 20 and 70, were believed to be illegally extracting sand from rivers in Kulim, Bukit Selambau and Kuala Muda.
The raids were conducted by the intelligence branches of the Northern Brigade Headquarters and the 1st and 2nd Battalions, together with the Kedah Land and Mines Office.
"Interrogations revealed that the site owner had been carrying out the illegal activity for the past year, selling the sand in nearby markets at around RM400 per lorryload.
"Further checks showed that the site owner did not have a valid permit or licence from the Land and Mines Office to extract sand from the river,” he said in a statement on Thursday (May 15).
He said the illegal activity allowed the suspects to profit by defrauding the state government.
"In addition to the arrests, four excavators, six lorries, a bulldozer, a tractor, two sand suction structures, engines and other equipment were also seized.
"The total value of the seized items is estimated at over RM2.8mil.
"The case is being investigated under Section 426 of the National Land Code 1965. The Northern Brigade GOF is actively monitoring and patrolling areas across Perak, Penang and Kedah to curb illegal activities,” he said. – Bernama
