Latest news with #OpsTaringWawasanKelantan
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
GOF thwarts smuggling of cattle, exotic birds
KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force's (GOF) Southeast Brigade foiled two smuggling attempts involving cattle and exotic birds in raids conducted under Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said that in the first raid, a team from GOF Battalion 8 stopped a suspicious lorry at Kampung Wakaf Simen in Tanah Merah at 11.15pm on Thursday. 'Upon inspection, we found 15 cows smuggled in from Thailand without valid documents. The total value of the seizure, including the lorry, is estimated at RM186,000. 'The driver, a 52-year-old Malaysian, was arrested and is believed to have been transporting the cows to local markets for Hari Raya Aidiladha,' he said yesterday, Bernama reported. In a separate raid near the illegal Paija base in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, GOF personnel found several boxes and animal cages abandoned on the riverbank during a patrol near midnight. 'The boxes contained three exotic parrots and a white peacock, estimated to be worth RM65,000. They are believed to have been smuggled in from a neighbouring country,' he said.
The Star
4 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
16-05-2025
- The Star
Cops probe alleged misconduct by border personnel
KOTA BARU: The police have received information regarding alleged abuse of power involving border enforcement personnel, says Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat ( pic ). Preliminary information indicated possible misconduct related to smuggling, including livestock, he added. 'A special task force has been formed and investigations are underway by the Kelantan police intelligence division,' he told reporters after the monthly assembly at the Kelantan police contingent headquarters yesterday. This announcement follows the Kelantan police's decision to tighten border security in order to curb cattle smuggling ahead of Hari Raya Haji, in response to reports of anthrax-related deaths in Thailand. Mohd Yusoff said his department is working closely with relevant agencies, including the Veterinary Services Department and border authorities, to prevent the illegal entry of livestock into the country. The deaths have been linked to the slaughter and consumption of raw meat in Don Tan district, Mukdahan province, Thailand, which borders Laos, according to a report by Thailand's Department of Disease Control. 'Kelantan police will continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, patrols and inter-agency cooperation to safeguard national security and combat smuggling,' he added, according to Bernama. Mohd Yusoff also reminded operators and livestock farmers not to bring cattle along illegal routes and to use only authorised checkpoints at the ICQS Complex to ensure proper health screening is conducted. He stressed that livestock smuggling harms the local livestock industry and poses a risk of spreading infectious diseases to humans. Mohd Yusoff said that the Border Security Coordination Committee's Working Group Meeting, in collaboration with the National Security Council, has recognised the necessity to strengthen enforcement measures against livestock smuggling activities. In 36 cases between 2024 and April 2025, the General Operations Force (GOF) seized a total of 390 cows and 25 buffaloes, valued at nearly RM4mil. In another development, RM2.64mil worth of ornamental plants and a lorry were seized by the General Operations Force (GOF) in Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan in Kampung Gual Tinggi, Pasir Mas. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the seizure was made by a team from Battalion 9 from a lorry during a patrol on Wednesday. He said a search of the lorry found it was carrying 8,000 Pandanus saplings and 138 Heliconia SP saplings, suspected of being brought into the country without valid documents, in the cargo compartment of the vehicle. 'These ornamental plants are believed to be at risk of carrying harmful insects and diseases that could threaten the local agricultural industry if they do not go through the prescribed quarantine process,' he said in a statement. It is understood that exotic plant species such as Pandanus and Heliconia are popular in landscapes. However, they can cause the spread of fungi and foreign insects that are difficult to control. Nik Ros Azhan said the lorry driver, aged 26, was arrested to facilitate the investigation under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167). The suspect and the seized items have been handed over to the Kelantan Agriculture Department for further action, including a health analysis of the plants, he added.
The Star
15-05-2025
- The Star
GOF seizes RM2.6mil worth of ornamental plants in Pasir Mas
KOTA BARU: Ornamental plants worth RM2.64mil were seized on Wednesday (May 14) by the General Operations Forces in an operation in Kampung Gual Tinggi, Pasir Mas. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid ( pic ) said the seizure was made from a lorry by a patrol from Battalion 9 during Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan. He said a search of the lorry found it was carrying 8,000 Pandanus saplings and 138 Heliconia SP saplings, suspected of being brought into the country without valid documents, in the cargo compartment of the vehicle. "These ornamental plants are believed to be at risk of carrying harmful insects and diseases that could threaten the local agricultural industry if they do not go through the prescribed quarantine process," he said in a statement on Thursday. It is understood that exotic plant species such as Pandanus and Heliconia are popular in landscapes, but can be a medium for the spread of fungi and foreign insects that are difficult to control Nik Ros Azhan said the lorry driver, aged 26, was arrested to facilitate the investigation under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167). The suspect and the seized items have been handed over to the Kelantan Agriculture Department for further action, including health analysis of the plants, he added. - 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.
