KOTA BARU: The 8th Battalion of the General Operations Force seized 1,400 orchid plants, worth an estimated RM280,000, suspected to have been smuggled from Thailand and potentially carrying pests during an operation in Kampung Lalang Pepuyu, Tumpat.
South-East Brigade commander, Senior Asst Comm Ahmad Radzi Hussain, said a pickup truck driven in a suspicious manner was stopped on Thursday.
They found 1,400 orchid plants believed to have been brought in without proper authorisation.
The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976.
“Preliminary checks showed the driver, a 20-year-old man, had collected the plants from a nursery in Kampung Rahmat, Rantau Panjang.
“The orchids were believed to be intended for sale in East Coast states, particularly Terengganu and Pahang, where demand for exotic ornamental plants is high,” he said in a statement yesterday.
SAC Ahmad Radzi said the seized plants had been handed over to the Kelantan Agriculture Department for further action, including pest risk inspections and compliance with plant quarantine requirements.
He added that the total value of the seizure, including the vehicle, was estimated at RM400,000, and
were conducting patrols under Ops Taring Wawasan when they
, posing a potential threat to the local agricultural sector, Bernama reported.
