KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) has foiled attempts to smuggle migrants and goods under Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan near the border with Thailand.
It also thwarted attempts at illegally obtaining subsidised petrol, South-East Brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Ahmad Radzi Hussain said.
He added that the operation, carried out by the 7th Battalion from 7am to 6pm on Thursday (Jan 15) saw arrests and seizures related to the smuggling of undocumented migrants, misuse of identification documents, and an attempt to smuggle subsidised controlled goods into Thailand.
He said the first case involved the detention of five Myanmar nationals, three men and two women, in front of Masjid Beijing in Rantau Panjang at about 7am.
They are believed to have been trying to enter the country illegally.
"Checks found the documents they produced to be suspicious.
"All the undocumented migrants were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while a boatman was detained under Section 26(j) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) 2007.
"Also seized were a multi-purpose vehicle, two mobile phones and cash, with the total value of the seizures estimated at RM42,334,” he said in a statement on Friday (Jan 16).
He said the second case involved a man who tried to use someone's else identity card to buy subsidised RON95 petrol at a petrol station in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, at about 11am.
"The man was detained under Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990, and two Malaysian identity cards were also seized,” he said.
SAC Ahmad Radzi said the third case involved the arrest of a man in Kampung Tasik Berangan, Jeram Perdah, Pasir Mas, at about 4.30pm for trying to smuggle subsidised controlled goods into Thailand.
"We also seized a van and 733 packets of cooking oil, with the value of the items seized amounting to RM31,916.50. The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961,” he said.
Separately, he said the GOF also thwarted an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes worth RM175,170 in two raids under Ops Taring Alpha 1 around Kuala Besut in Jertih on Thursday. – Bernama
