ALOR SETAR: The General Operations Force (GOF) northern brigade seized timber logs and equipment worth RM4.3mil in an integrated operation on Tuesday (May 19).
GOF northern brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh said the seizure on Tuesday was conducted during Ops Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK), together with the state Forestry Department, Sik City Council (MPS), Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and the Sik police department.
"The operation was carried out following intelligence gathered regarding a premises suspected of conducting illegal timber processing activities without approval in Jeniang, and the team successfully detained a man believed to be the owner of the premises," he said in a statement on Thursday (May 21).
SAC Balveer said initial investigations revealed that the premises had been operating timber processing activities without approval from the state Forestry Department for the past one year.
He said that during the raid, the enforcement team discovered various machinery, equipment, and piles of logs, both processed and unprocessed.
"The processed timber from the premises was subsequently transported to several areas in Penang for the manufacturing of downstream wood-based products," he said.
SAC Balveer Singh said in the operation, the team also seized various types of log cutting and processing machines.
He said the case has been handed over to the state Forestry Department, and investigations are being conducted under Section 3(2) of the Wood-Based Industries Enactment 1985 (State of Kedah), punishable under Section 27 of the same enactment. Upon conviction, offenders may face imprisonment of up to one year, a fine not exceeding RM2,000, or both.
He added that strict enforcement action will be taken against any party involved in the processing and storage of timber logs without proper approval, as such activities may cause serious environmental impact. Intelligence-gathering and enforcement operations will continue to be intensified from time to time to identify, combat, and curb any unlawful activities.
He also appealed to the public for information on the illegal storing and processing of logs.
