High steaks: Syndicates using livestock sheds to smuggle drugs
General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said that while there is no evidence of direct involvement by the owners, intelligence reports suggest that drugs are being smuggled alongside cattle or goats using the sheds' logistics networks.
'We warn cattle shed owners near the border that they risk becoming middlemen—either willingly, tempted by huge profits, or through coercion by syndicates,' he said.
The syndicates are believed to be using sheds in areas such as Kampung Tualang and Simpangan in Tumpat, as well as Kampung Kubang Pak Itam, Jeram Perdah, and Tok Deh in Pasir Mas.
Recently, the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, together with Kelantan police, seized 35.4kg of pil kuda (amphetamine pills) worth over RM5mil in six raids conducted in Pasir Mas and Tumpat.
In one raid, 20kg of drugs were found hidden in cow dung in a shed owned by a suspect in Banggol Chica, Pasir Mas.
Nik Ros Azhan said that in the first six months of this year, the GOF recorded 34 cases of livestock smuggling with 39 arrests, involving 818 animals—274 cattle, 18 buffaloes, and 526 sheep and goats.
In 2024, the GOF recorded 47 cases with 56 individuals arrested and 80,755 animals seized, including 80,025 chickens, 385 cows, 340 sheep and goats, and five buffaloes.
'GOF inspections at several illegal crossings also uncovered ropes tied to tree trunks for securing cattle, along with traces of dung and hoofprints along the riverbanks.
'Once enough cattle are gathered, they are herded two to three kilometres from the riverbank to illegal sheds, before being loaded onto lorries and transported to specific destinations,' he said.
He stressed that the GOF will continue to tighten enforcement, and stern action will be taken if it is proven that any shed owners are complicit in smuggling activities involving cattle or goats. - Bernama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Pistol, live bullets seized in Tumpat
TUMPAT: The General Operations Force (GOF) arrested two Thai nationals and seized a revolver along with 35 bullets during an operation here yesterday. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the operation was conducted at about 7.45am at a house in Kampung Pauh Seratus near Pengkalan Kubor. "Based on intelligence received from the public, a GOF team from the Seventh Battalion, with the assistance of the Tumpat Criminal Investigation Division, raided the house. "During the raid, they found a 30-year-old Thai man and a 40-year-old Thai woman in one of the rooms. "Further checks uncovered a .38 calibre revolver loaded with six live bullets, 29 additional bullets, a spent casing, and three mobile phones," he said. Ros Azhan said urine tests for both suspects returned negative results for drug use. "Initial investigations revealed the firearm was purchased in Thailand for 37,000 baht (approximately RM4,800) for personal use," he said. He said the two are being investigated under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960. "They are also being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering the country without valid travel documents," he said. He added that the battalion would continue operations to combat cross-border firearms smuggling along the Kelantan–Thai border. "We are committed to ensuring national security remains intact," he said.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Timber worth RM1.1mil seized in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Timber worth RM1.1mil was seized en route to a wood factory in Ranau. In a raid dubbed Ops Bersepadu Khazanah, General Operations Force (GOF) personnel spotted two trailers along the Tambunan-Ranau road, near Kg Rondogung, at 1.30am on Thursday. Sabah GOF commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias said the drivers were instructed to pull over for an inspection. 'Our personnel found a total of 59 timber logs worth RM1.189mil. The drivers, aged 43 and 59, failed to produce permits for the timber. 'This is a violation of the Sabah Forestry Department's regulations,' he said in a statement. Both men were detained and the logs as well as the trailers were seized. They would be handed over to the department for further action under the Sabah Forestry Enactment 1968. The timber is believed to have been taken from Tomani Tenom to a factory in Lohan, Ranau. Abdul Rani said GOF would continue to carry out more operations.
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Borneo Post
RM2.68 million worth of logs without permits seized in Ranau
The logs seized by authorities at Kampung Rondogung in Ranau. RANAU (July 25): The Sabah Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) seized 59 logs without permits from two trailer trucks at Kampung Rondogung here, early Friday morning. Sabah GOF Brigade Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rani Alias, said both truck drivers — in their 40s and 50s — were detained for investigation following the 1.30am operation on July 25. He said the trucks, en route to Jalan Tambunan-Ranau, were intercepted by personnel from the Keningau GOF Battalion 21 and the Sabah Forestry Department Ranau team. 'A total of 59 logs were seized as both drivers failed to provide any documentation to the authorities, which is a violation under the Sabah Forestry Department's requirements,' he said in a statement on Friday. The seized logs were valued at RM1.189 million, while the two trucks were estimated at RM1.491 million — bringing the total value of the seizure to RM2.68 million. The suspects and seized items were handed over to the Sabah Forestry Department for investigation under the Sabah Forest Enactment 1968 for possessing and transporting forest produce without valid documentation.
