RM35.4 million worth of frozen food seized in massive operation across Sabah
PAPAR (July 16): The Sabah Brigade General Operations Force (GOF seized various types of frozen food worth over RM35.4 million during a large-scale operation conducted simultaneously across 10 districts in Sabah on Tuesday.
Sabah Brigade GOF Commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias said the 9am to 8pm operation — codenamed 'Ops Taring Chiller' — also led to the arrest of 29 individuals during raids on several storage warehouses and major distribution centres suspected of operating without valid permits and violating multiple food safety and management regulations.
The operation involved the Sabah Veterinary Services Department, the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and the Sabah Agriculture Department.
'A total of 29 individuals, including seven women aged between 20 and 60, were detained during the raids at 15 premises across Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Sandakan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tenom and Keningau,' Abdul Rani said at a press conference held at the Sabah Brigade PGA headquarters in Kinarut on Wednesday.
Various frozen food products including chicken, meat, seafood, french fries and meatballs were seized, along with logistics equipment such as cold storage rooms, industrial refrigerators, meat-cutting machines and refrigerated lorries.
The total value of the seized items was estimated at RM35,452,000, with Kota Kinabalu accounting for the largest seizure — more than RM12 million.
Among the offences detected were operating without a valid business licence and violations of several laws, including Section 15(1) of the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015, the Food Act 1983, Sections 102 and 103 of the Local Government Act 1976, the Trade Licensing Ordinance 1948, Regulation 10(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974, and Section 21 of the Supply Control Act 1961.
Further inspections revealed that most of the seized frozen products were locally sourced but had been repackaged without proper labels — a tactic believed to be used to evade detection by the authorities.
Abdul Rani emphasized that the operation focused on storage warehouses and distribution centres rather than retail outlets or sales stores.
'Intelligence and surveillance were conducted for two to three weeks before the raids commenced. We moved in as the premises began operations early in the morning,' he said, noting that most of those arrested were warehouse workers and premises owners.
He added that similar operations will be conducted to curb activities that breach food safety standards and misuse distribution permits.
'The main objective of this operation is to protect consumer rights, ensure a safe and quality food supply, and eliminate fraud within the national food supply chain,' Abdul Rani stressed.
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