Sarawak GOF seizes smuggled items worth RM1.6 mln, detains nine during Op Taring

Borneo Post

14-07-2025

A General Operations Force (GOF) member from the 11th Battalion in Batu Kawah conducts a routine patrol along the checkpoint boundary in Telok Melano, Sematan which shares the border with West Kalimantan, Indonesia. — Bernama file photo
KUCHING (July 14): The Sarawak Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) seized contraband worth RM1.6 million in six raids conducted under Operation Taring in several districts in the state over five days.
Its commander, SAC Dr Che Ghazali Che Awang, said the operation, which involved the cooperation of the intelligence and infantry units from the 10th and 11th PGA Battalions, led to the arrest of nine individuals aged between 24 and 62, including an Indonesian.
He said in the operation conducted on July 7 in Bau, a 40-year-old local man was arrested after 350 boxes of frozen food without a valid permit, with an estimated value of RM209,600, were found in his lorry.
In the operation conducted on July 8 in Sibu, he said the GOF raided a premises and arrested two men, a local and an Indonesian, aged 24 and 40, respectively.
'Also seized were 238 kilogrammes of frozen food, a forklift and a vehicle with a total value of RM479,099,' he said in a statement here today.
Meanwhile, in an operation conducted on July 9, Che Ghazali said a 34-year-old local man was arrested in Lundu for transporting diesel without a permit, leading to the seizure of 230 litres of diesel and 10 jerrycans, estimated at RM81,155.50.
'In Kota Samarahan on the same day, two local men aged 26 and 32 were arrested after they were found having 18,000 litres of diesel without a permit. The diesel, 17 IBC tanks, and a tanker lorry with an estimated value of RM218,840 were seized,' he said.
In an operation conducted on July 10, he said, the PGA raided a premises in Kuching and seized 4,500 litres of diesel, 13 IBC tanks, two skid tanks, 25 PVC hoses, two pump engines and a tanker lorry.
'Two local men aged 28 and 33 were arrested and the value of the seizure was estimated at RM381,060,' he said.
He said a 62-year-old local man was arrested on July 11 in Bau when he was found carrying 4,032 boxes of medicines and herbs without approval from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) in a 4WD vehicle. – Bernama contraband general operations force lead Operation Taring raids