KOTA KINABALU: Authorities have seized over RM35.4mil worth of frozen food products and detained 29 individuals in a major crackdown on unlicensed storage and distribution centres across Sabah.
The coordinated operation, dubbed Ops Taring Chiller, was carried out simultaneously in 10 districts on Tuesday (July 15), targeting warehouses and key distribution hubs suspected of operating without valid permits.
Sabah General Operations Force (GOF) Brigade Commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias (pic) said the operation — based out of Kinarut — involved 275 personnel from various enforcement agencies.
They were joined by officers from the Sabah Veterinary Services Department, the Health Ministry, and the Sabah Agriculture Department.
“In total, 29 individuals — 22 men and seven women aged between 20 and 60 years old — were arrested during raids across Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Sandakan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tenom, and Keningau,” he told a press conference at the PGA Sabah headquarters in Kinarut Wednesday (July 16).
The confiscated items included chicken, beef and seafood products, as well as frozen items such as French fries and meatballs. Authorities also seized cold room facilities, industrial freezers, meat slicers and refrigerated trucks.
“Of the total seizure, over RM12mil worth of items were confiscated in Kota Kinabalu alone,” he said.
A total of 19 premises were raided — 15 were found to have committed various offences, three were clean, and one was not in operation during the raid.
Abdul Rani said six major violations were detected, including operating without a business licence; breaching the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015; Food Act 1983; Local Government Act 1976; Trade Licensing Ordinance 1948; and the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and its regulations.
Checks also revealed that most frozen goods were locally repackaged to disguise their origins.
“We believe the items were repackaged domestically to mislead authorities. This operation targeted only storage and distribution centres, not retailers or small sales stores,” he added.
He said the raids were conducted following two to three weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, timed to coincide with the early morning start of business operations.
“Most of those arrested were warehouse workers, while the rest were premises owners,” he said.
All suspects and confiscated goods have been handed over to the relevant agencies for further action under existing laws.
“This operation will continue in stages with other enforcement agencies. Our main objective is to safeguard consumers and ensure that supplied food is safe and of good quality,” he added.
