Latest news with #GOFSoutheastBrigade
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
GOF thwarts border smuggling of cattle, exotic birds
KOTA BHARU: The Southeast Brigade of General Operations Force (GOF) thwarted two smuggling attempts involving cattle and exotic birds in raids conducted under Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan Friday night. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said in the first raid, a team of GOF Battalion 8 members stopped a lorry driven in suspicious circumstances at Kampung Wakaf Simen in Tanah Merah at 11.15 pm. '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 Malay man, was arrested and believed to be transporting the cows to the local markets for Hari Raya Aidiladha,' he said in a statement today. He said the suspect and seized items were handed over to the Kelantan State 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 members discovered several boxes and animal cages abandoned on the riverbank during a patrol at almost midnight. 'The boxes contained three exotic parrots and a white peacock, estimated to be worth RM65,000, which are likely smuggled in from a neighbouring country. 'The case is being investigated under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and all the seized items have been handed over to the Kota Bharu Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for further investigation,' he said.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Bid to smuggle parrots, rare peacock foiled by GOF
TUMPAT: The General Operations Force (GOF) foiled an attempt to smuggle three parrots and a rare white peacock worth about RM65,000 in Pengkalan Kubor last night. However, no arrests were made in the operation, said GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid. He said the Eighth Battalion team was on routine patrol under Op Taring Wawasan when they spotted suspicious activities about 11pm. "GOF personnel came across several boxes and animal cages hidden along the riverbank. Upon inspection, they found three parrots believed to be of the cockatoo species and a rare white peacock, with an estimated value of RM65,000. "They are believed to have been smuggled in from Thailand via an illegal jetty," he said. He said the case was being investigated under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010. The seized animals have been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) in Kota Baru for further action. He reaffirmed GOF's commitment to strengthening border patrols to curb cross-border smuggling, particularly of protected wildlife species. "The GOF will continue to intensify efforts to safeguard our borders against such illegal activities," he added.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- The Sun
GOF thwarts smuggling attempt, over 91,000 cigarette sticks seized in Pasir Mas
KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) thwarted a smuggling attempt with the seizure of more than 91,000 sticks of cigarettes in Kampung Bunut Susu, in Pasir Mas. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the raid was carried out under 'Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan' last Thursday. He said the seizure, comprising 82,600 sticks of white cigarettes and 9,240 sticks of kretek cigarettes, was found in a van in the compound of a house. A 63-year-old man was arrested to facilitate investigations under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967, he said in a statement today. Meanwhile, Nik Ros Azhan said his team, together with the Kelantan enforcement division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), also seized 1,258 packets of cooking oil in Kampung Banggol Ara, in Pasir Mas, last Friday. 'The packets of cooking oil, believed to be smuggled out to Thailand, were found in a vehicle parked in the compound of a house,' he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- The Sun
Over 91,000 cigarette sticks seized in Pasir Mas
KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) thwarted a smuggling attempt with the seizure of more than 91,000 sticks of cigarettes in Kampung Bunut Susu, in Pasir Mas. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the raid was carried out under 'Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan' last Thursday. He said the seizure, comprising 82,600 sticks of white cigarettes and 9,240 sticks of kretek cigarettes, was found in a van in the compound of a house. A 63-year-old man was arrested to facilitate investigations under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967, he said in a statement today. Meanwhile, Nik Ros Azhan said his team, together with the Kelantan enforcement division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), also seized 1,258 packets of cooking oil in Kampung Banggol Ara, in Pasir Mas, last Friday. 'The packets of cooking oil, believed to be smuggled out to Thailand, were found in a vehicle parked in the compound of a house,' he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- New Straits Times
GOF cripples human trafficking syndicate, nabs 37 undocumented migrants and 2 tekong in Kelantan
KOTA BARU: A total of 37 undocumented migrants and two suspected tekong (those who harbour illegal immigrants) were arrested during separate operations by the General Operations Force (GOF) in Ketereh and Pengkalan Kubor yesterday. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the operations under Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan were carried out by the GOF Eighth Battalion following intelligence on human smuggling activities. He said the first raid was conducted at 11.30am at a house in Lorong Dato Kadok, Jalan Syed Kuning near Ketereh. "During the raid, two local men were found sitting in a car parked in front of the house. "Upon further inspection, the GOF then found 11 Bangladeshi men, 19 Myanmar men and five Myanmar women hiding inside the premises," he said. Ros Azhan said initial checks showed that all the Bangladeshi nationals and one Myanmar man did not have valid entry stamps in their passports, while the remaining individuals possessed no identification documents. "All are believed to have been smuggled into Malaysia via illegal routes. "The two local suspects, aged 31 and 57, are believed to be the tekong responsible for bringing the undocumented migrants into the country," Nik Ros Azhan said, adding that one of them tested positive for methamphetamine. The undocumented migrants are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the tekong are being held under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM). He said all were taken to the Kota Baru district police headquarters for further action. In a separate case at 1.30pm the same day, he said a team manning a roadblock at Jalan Neting, Pengkalan Kubor, detained a suspicious lorry during routine checks. "Inside the vehicle, a 23-year-old Indian man was driving with a Nepali passenger whose passport had expired. "The driver is being investigated under Section 55E of the Immigration Act, while the Nepali man is held under Section 15(1) of the same Act," said Nik Ros Azhan. Both individuals were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Tumpat district police station. Nik Ros Azhan stressed that GOF would continue to strengthen border security and enforcement operations to combat the influx of undocumented migrants and the smuggling syndicates operating along Malaysia's borders.
