KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) has seized 25 tonnes of white rice, suspected to have been smuggled from Thailand, during an operation in Paloh, Pasir Mas.
South-East Brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain (pic) said the seizure was carried out by a task force under Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan at about 11pm on Tuesday (Oct 27).
The team, while conducting surveillance in the vicinity of Kampung Pangkal Senor along the Kota Bharu-Gua Musang Highway, spotted a black lorry driven in a suspicious manner.
They intercepted the vehicle for inspection on the side of Jalan Bentong-Kota Baru, in front of an office in Paloh.
"The lorry was carrying 500 sacks of white rice, with a total weight of 25,000kg.
"The driver produced two copies of invoices to explain the origin and intended destination of the rice shipment.
"However, there were discrepancies regarding the delivery location stated in the documents," SAC Ahmad Radzi said in a statement Wednesday (Oct 28) night.
He saId the 38-year-old lorry driver, a local man, was detained to assist with the investigation.
Also seized were a lorry estimated to be worth RM450,000 and the cargo of rice, valued at RM100,000, bringing the total value of the seizure to RM550,000.
SAC Ahmad Radzi noted that the case has been handed over to the Kelantan Padi and Rice Regulatory Division for further investigation under Section 20 of the Padi and Rice Control Act 1994.
e added that further investigations will be conducted to verify the authenticity of the invoices, identify the source of the supply, determine the parties involved in preparing the documents, and uncover the distribution network for the suspected smuggled rice. – Bernama
