Latest news with #NorthernBrigadeGOF
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
RM916,000 worth of e-cigarettes seized in Padang Besar raids
PADANG BESAR: The General Operations Force (GOF) foiled an attempt to distribute electronic cigarettes worth more than RM900,000 with the arrest of two men and the seizure of 2,400 cartons in two separate raids on Friday. In the first operation at about noon, a team of officers stopped a van at a roadblock at Kilometre 27, Padang Besar. Northern Brigade GOF commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Shahrum Hashim said checks on the courier van found eight boxes of electronic cigarettes without valid documents, believed to be en route to a house in Taman Kim, Padang Besar. "Based on follow-up intelligence, we raided a house used as a storage facility at 1.30pm and arrested a man who admitted to renting the premises. "Checks inside the house led to the discovery of 28 more boxes of electronic cigarettes, also without valid documentation. "In total, we seized 2,400 cartons, valued at RM916,000," he said in a statement today. Shahrum said the first suspect, a 25-year-old, claimed he was paid to deliver packages he was told contained cosmetics from Kuala Lumpur. "The second suspect, a 55-year-old, admitted to obtaining supplies of electronic cigarettes from a supplier in the capital to sell to local customers over the past three months. Both are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a fine or imprisonment upon conviction, he said. Shahrum added that the GOF would intensify efforts to combat smuggling activities along the northern border and urged the public to provide information on any illegal activities to the authorities.
The Star
15-05-2025
- The Star
GOF nabs 13 over illegal sand mining in Kedah
ALOR SETAR: The General Operations Force (GOF) has arrested 13 people for suspected involvement in illegal sand mining during raids at three separate locations in Kedah on Wednesday (May 14). Northern Brigade GOF commander Senior Asst Comm Shahrum Hashim (pic) said the suspects, aged between 20 and 70, were believed to be illegally extracting sand from rivers in Kulim, Bukit Selambau and Kuala Muda. The raids were conducted by the intelligence branches of the Northern Brigade Headquarters and the 1st and 2nd Battalions, together with the Kedah Land and Mines Office. "Interrogations revealed that the site owner had been carrying out the illegal activity for the past year, selling the sand in nearby markets at around RM400 per lorryload. "Further checks showed that the site owner did not have a valid permit or licence from the Land and Mines Office to extract sand from the river,' he said in a statement on Thursday (May 15). He said the illegal activity allowed the suspects to profit by defrauding the state government. "In addition to the arrests, four excavators, six lorries, a bulldozer, a tractor, two sand suction structures, engines and other equipment were also seized. "The total value of the seized items is estimated at over RM2.8mil. "The case is being investigated under Section 426 of the National Land Code 1965. The Northern Brigade GOF is actively monitoring and patrolling areas across Perak, Penang and Kedah to curb illegal activities,' he said. – Bernama
