KUCHING: The Sarawak PGA Brigade achieved significant success through operations Op Taring Bravo 1, Op Taring Charlie, and Op Taring Batas on January 20, this year.
In a statement, Commanding Officer SAC Dr. Che Ghazali Che Awang revealed several notable arrests and seizures.
He said during a raid at 12.05 pm in Kuching City, a 64-year-old local man was arrested by a team from the 11th Battalion.
The premises were suspected to be a storage site for illegal firecrackers.
Further inspections uncovered 597 boxes of firecrackers and fireworks with an estimated market value of RM2,149,200.
The suspect and seized items were handed over to IPD Padawan for further investigation under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957.
At 1.30 pm, two local men, aged 26 and 27, were arrested in Sibujaya.
Authorities discovered 2,110 litres of diesel fuel, believed to be linked to subsidized fuel embezzlement.
The total value of the seized diesel amounted to RM647,428, based on current market prices.
The case was referred to the KPDN Sibu Branch for further investigation under the Supply Control Act 1961.
At 2.00 pm, the 12th Battalion arrested a 19-year-old suspect in Miri City.
Authorities found 153 boxes of firecrackers and fireworks, valued at RM550,800, stored on the premises.
During Op Taring Batas at 7.00 pm, the 23rd Battalion, Sri Aman discovered several black plastic packages abandoned in the Kampung Temong Mura area.
The packages contained 300 cartons of white cigarettes worth an estimated RM171,600.
Dr. Ghazali noted that in the first 25 days of 2025, the Sarawak PGA Brigade recorded 16 successful cases, resulting in the arrest of 36 individuals (33 locals and three foreigners) and the seizure of 14 vehicles of various types.
The total value of seizures for this period amounted to an impressive RM52.3 million.
By Connie Chieng