KUCHING: The Sarawak Brigade of the General Operations Force (GOF) has recorded nine successes following operations which ran from Oct 14 to Oct 27, with seizures totalling RM4.04mil.
State brigade commander SAC Lim Bak Phai said five men – three locals and two Indonesians – were arrested in Sibu on Oct 14, and 24,552 litres of liquor worth over RM1.17 million was seized.
Meanwhile, on Oct 16 in Kuching, five individuals were arrested for possessing 395,600 kretek cigarettes with a market value of RM791,200.
Under Op Taring Batas on Oct 21 in Lundu, the GOF arrested a 43-year-old local man for smuggling 200 litres of diesel, seizing assets valued at RM130,660.
"On the same day in Sibu, two more local men were arrested following the seizure of cigarettes and various types of liquor worth RM31,884.40.
“In Kota Samarahan, a 25-year-old woman was arrested with 107,000 white cigarettes and 2,055 litres of liquor worth RM275,919.60,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 28).
Lim also said that on Oct 21 in Bintulu, a 31-year-old man was arrested with RM511,506 worth of contraband.
Meanwhile, in a raid in Sri Aman on Oct 22, four were arrested with the seizure of cigarettes and liquor valued at RM97,574.87.
"On Oct 23 in Lundu, the GOF busted a smuggling operation with the seizure of 16 gas cylinders worth RM2,585.60, which were handed over to the Sarawak Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications for further action,” Lim said.
The biggest success was recorded in Sibu, where the GOF arrested 14 individuals, including two Indonesians suspected of being involved in the embezzlement of 38,800 litres of diesel fuel.
Assets seized in the case include skid tanks, IBC tanks, machines and nine vehicles, valued at an estimated RM1.03mil. – Bernama
