Latest news with #SoutheastBrigade
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.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Cannabis smuggled in sarong boxes seized
PASIR MAS: An attempt by a drug smuggler to evade authorities by concealing 22.5kg of cannabis in boxes typically used to pack sarongs was foiled by the General Operations Force (GOF) in an early morning operation today. Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid confirmed the case, saying the drugs, worth an estimated RM810,000, were discovered during a routine patrol by a team from the GOF's Ninth Battalion. However, no arrests were made in the 6.20am operation, which took place in Rantau Panjang. He said GOF personnel were conducting their regular rounds when they spotted a black Proton Wira Aeroback driven by a man acting suspiciously and heading towards Customs Gate 2. "When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver sped off but later pulled over at the roadside near the Banggol Kulim traffic light in Rantau Panjang. "The driver then abandoned the car and fled the scene on foot," he said. Upon inspecting the vehicle, he said GOF personnel found 22.5kg of cannabis concealed in the rear passenger seat. "The drugs were packed in 45 small boxes commonly used for sarongs." He said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction. It is learnt that the cannabis, smuggled from a neighbouring country, is priced at about RM36,000 on the Malaysian market.
The Star
7 days ago
- The Star
GOF raids sawmills across three states, seizes over RM97mil in timber, goods
KUANTAN: The Southeast Brigade of the General Operations Force (GOF), in collaboration with the Forestry Department, has seized timber and related goods worth over RM97mil following 32 raids on sawmills in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang between Feb 11 and May 20. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said the first two phases of "Ops Sawmill", a targeted initiative under the broader "Ops Bersepadu Khazanah", involved raids on 18 premises, namely two in Terengganu and 16 in Kelantan. These led to the arrest of 53 individuals and the seizure of timber and equipment worth RM66.5mil. Phase three, he said, covered 14 raids on seven premises in Pahang, and four each in Terengganu and Kelantan, with 45 more arrests and RM30.84mil in goods confiscated. He added that 18 Malaysians had been released on bail, while 27 foreign nationals remained in custody. Those detained included six Myanmar nationals, seven Bangladeshis, 12 Indonesians, and one each from Nepal and India. Azmi said 11 offences were identified during the operations, with investigations conducted under several laws, including the Immigration Act 1959/63, National Forestry Act 1984, Wood-Based Industries Enactment 1985, and the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Employee Amenities Act. He noted that while some premises held valid operating licences, several had breached legal conditions. "In one case, early intelligence suggested non-compliance, but by the time of the raid, the operator had renewed their licence and rectified the issues, so no action was taken," he said. - Bernama
Barnama
7 days ago
- Barnama
GOF Raids Sawmills Across Three States, Seizes Over RM97mln In Timber And Goods
KUANTAN, 27 May (Bernama) -- The Southeast Brigade of the General Operations Force (GOF), in collaboration with the Forestry Department, has seized timber and related goods worth over RM97 million following 32 raids on sawmills in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang between Feb 11 and May 20. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said the first two phases of 'Op Sawmill', a targeted initiative under the broader 'Op Bersepadu Khazanah', involved raids on 18 premises namely two in Terengganu and 16 in Kelantan. These led to the arrest of 53 individuals and the seizure of timber and equipment worth RM66.5 million. Phase three, he said, covered 14 raids on seven premises in Pahang, and four each in Terengganu and Kelantan, with 45 more arrests and RM30.84 million in goods confiscated. He added that 18 Malaysians had been released on bail, while 27 foreign nationals remained in custody. Those detained included six Myanmar nationals, seven Bangladeshis, 12 Indonesians, and one each from Nepal and India. Azmi said 11 offences were identified during the operations, with investigations conducted under several laws, including the Immigration Act 1959/63, National Forestry Act 1984, Wood-Based Industries Enactment 1985, and the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Employee Amenities Act. He noted that while some premises held valid operating licences, several had breached legal conditions. 'In one case, early intelligence suggested non-compliance, but by the time of the raid, the operator had renewed their licence and rectified the issues, so no action was taken,' he said. -- BERNAMA
The Sun
20-05-2025
- The Sun
GOF rescues 35 undocumented migrants in Kelantan raid, local men arrested
KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) 8th Battalion, Southeast Brigade rescued 35 undocumented migrants believed to be victims of human trafficking during a raid at a house in Lorong Dato Kadok, Jalan Syed Kuning, Ketereh yesterday. Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the 11.30 am operation followed intelligence on human smuggling activities using the premises as a transit point. 'During the raid, two local men were found inside a car parked in front of the house. Further inspection led to the discovery of 11 Bangladeshi men and 24 Myanmar nationals, comprising 19 men and five women,' he said in a statement. Investigations revealed that the Bangladeshis and one Myanmar man had no valid entry stamps, while the rest lacked any identification documents. He said the two local suspects, aged 31 and 57, are believed to be agents smuggling the migrants via illegal routes, adding that one suspect tested positive for methamphetamine. All migrants are being held under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the locals are being investigated under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
