Latest news with #GOFSouth-EastBrigade
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
GOF thwarts smuggling of cattle and exotic birds into Kelantan
Composite image of the seized animals and cattle smuggling suspect. – courtesy GOF South-East Brigade via BERNAMA KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) South-East Brigade thwarted two smuggling attempts involving cattle and exotic birds in raids conducted under Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan on Thursday (May 29) night. Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said in the first raid, a team of GOF Battalion 8 members stopped a suspicious-seeming lorry at Kampung Wakaf Simen in Tanah Merah at 11.15pm. "Upon inspection, we found 15 cows smuggled in from Thailand without any valid documents, with the value of the seized items, including the lorry, estimated at RM186,000. "The driver, a 52-year-old man, was arrested. "It is believed he was transporting the cows to local markets for Hari Raya Aidiladha," he said in a statement on Friday (May 30). He said the suspect and seized items were handed over to the Kelantan Veterinary Services Department for investigation under Section 36(1) of the Animals Act 1953. In another raid near the illegal Paija base in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, GOF personnel discovered several boxes and animal cages abandoned on the riverbank during a patrol close to midnight. "The boxes contained three exotic parrots and a white peacock, estimated to be worth RM65,000, possibly smuggled in from a neighbouring country. "The case is being investigated under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010. "All the seized items have been handed over to the Kota Baru Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for further investigation," Nik Ros Azhan said. – Bernama
The Star
12-05-2025
- The Star
RM5.5mil worth of plants and vehicle seized
KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) has seized various ornamental plants believed to have been smuggled from Thailand in Kampung Lalang Pepuyu, Tanah Merah. GOF South-East Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said its 9th Battalion confiscated the items from a lorry at 4.15pm last Friday during Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan. 'Inspection of the lorry uncovered a landscape plant of the Eugenia species, 1,500 climbing plants and 2,000 bucida plants. The seized items, including the vehicle, are worth about RM5.5mil,' he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported. Nik Ros Azhan said the 26-year-old lorry driver was also detained after the man failed to produce any documents related to the plants. He said the case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976. 'The suspect and seized items were handed over to the Kelantan Agriculture Department for further action,' he added. In a separate case, the GOF's 8th Battalion, in collaboration with the Kota Baru Municipal Council, foiled the sale of unlicensed electronic cigarettes at a premise on Jalan Raja Perempuan Zainab at 5.15pm on Saturday. 'A 36-year-old man was found on the premise and checks uncovered 4,064 units of vape liquids and devices without valid documentation. The seizure is valued at about RM284,000,' Nik Ros Azhan said.
