KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) seized 197 logs and 310.8kg of agarwood chips, with a total estimated value of RM3.47mil, in a raid on a house in Chicha Tinggi, Pasir Mas, on Wednesday (Nov 4).
The raid, conducted at about 5 pm by the GOF's 7th Battalion in collaboration with the Kelantan Forestry Department, also led to the arrest of two women, aged 19 and 54, who are believed to have been involved in keeping the forest produce without a valid licence or permit.
Southeast Brigade GOF Commander Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain said an inspection of the house uncovered logs of various sizes and pieces suspected to be agarwood. Further checks at a store and an adjacent disused factory also found similar materials.
He said the team also seized seven plastic drums and 11 documents of questionable authenticity relating to ownership of the forest produce.
"The total value of the seizure is estimated at RM3,471,400, comprising 197 logs worth RM985,000 and 310.8kg of wood chips valued at RM2,486,400," he said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 5).
Ahmad Radzi said preliminary investigations found that the premises had allegedly been operating since 2000 and held a licence to collect agarwood under a company's name, but it was revoked by the Forestry Department in 2016.
He said the materials were believed to have been sourced from forest areas and privately owned land across Kelantan.
Ahmad Radzi added that the original owner of the factory died on Sept 6, after which the storage and safekeeping of the forest produce were taken over by family members.
The suspects and seized items have been handed over to the Kelantan Forestry Department for further investigation under Section 84 of the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313). – Bernama
