KUCHING: Sarawak General Operations Force (PGA) Commanding Officer SAC Che Ghazali Che Awang disclosed that between January 1 to February 4 this year, Sarawak PGA has successfully arrested 61 locals and 7 foreigners and seized confiscated goods worth RM65.9 million from a total of 33 cases.
A number of 23 vehicles of various types were also seized.
In a press statement issued, Ghazali revealed that Sarawak PGA successfully carried out four operations—Op Taring Alpha, Op Taring Bravo 1, and Op Taring Charlie—resulting in total seizures valued at RM9.93 million.
Ghazali stated that on Feb 4 in Bau, during Op Taring Alpha at 5:30 pm, a police team arrested three local men aged between 21 and 28. They discovered 10,500 cartons of cigarettes and 3,060 cartons of kretek cigarettes suspected to have been smuggled and stored in a premises there.
Additionally, two lorries were seized. The total estimated value of the confiscated items amounted to RM5,734,000. The arrests and seizures were handed over to the Bau District Police Headquarters for further action and investigation under section 135(1)(D) of the Customs Act 1967.
On the same day, at 1:30 pm, officers from the 12th Battalion PGA, Miri, raided a premises in the Bintulu District suspected of being used to store smuggled cigarettes and liquor.
A 40-year-old local man was arrested, and authorities seized 1,198 cartons of cigarettes, 2,348 cartons of kretek cigarettes, and 540.86 litres of liquor of various brands. The total estimated value of the seized goods was RM2,924,400.
The suspect and the confiscated items were handed over to the Bintulu District Police Headquarters for further action and investigation under section 135(1)(D) of the Customs Act 1967.
Meanwhile, in Sibu at 1.00 pm on the same day, the 10th Battalion PGA conducted a raid on a premises in Sibu Town, which was being used for selling subsidized diesel fuel.
During the raid, three local men and one Indonesian man, aged between 20 and 58, were arrested. Further inspection uncovered 15,600 litres of diesel fuel stored at the location. Two lorries were also seized. The total estimated value of the seizure was RM1,189,688.
The case was handed over to the KPDN Sibu Branch for further action and investigation under the Supply Control Act 1961.
In Sri Aman, at 4:05 pm on the same day, the 23rd Battalion PGA raided a premises in the Simunjan District suspected of being used as a storage facility for firecrackers and fireworks.
During the raid, a 33-year-old local man was arrested, and authorities found 1,202 units of various types of firecrackers and fireworks stored in the premises.
The total estimated value of the seizure amounted to RM101,020.
The arrest and seizure were handed over to the Simunjan District Police Headquarters for further action and investigation under section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957.
Ghazali stated that such operations would continue and urged the public to provide any relevant information.
By Connie Chieng