KUCHING: The Sarawak General Operations Force (PGA) Brigade has recorded three major successes under Ops Taring Alpha/Charlie and Ops Bersepadu Khazanah, with total seizures amounting to RM6,822,720.
According to PGA Sarawak Brigade Commanding Officer ACP Rosdi Inai, the first case was reported on May 21 at around 10.30 am, when a team from the Intelligence Branch of Battalion 10 PGA Sibu conducted a raid at a residence in the Sibu district suspected of being used to store various types of contraband items.
During the operation, police arrested a 44-year-old local man. Further checks uncovered 7,600 cartons of white cigarettes, 6,788 cartons of kretek cigarettes, 435 boxes of firecrackers, two imitation firearms, nine dangerous weapons, and a four-wheel drive vehicle.
The estimated value of the seized items was RM6,297,990. The suspect and seized items were handed over to Sibu District Police for further action. The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957, Section 7(1) of the Corrosive, Explosive and Dangerous Weapons Act, and Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960.
The second success took place on 19 May 2025 at about 10.30 am when a team from the Intelligence Branch of the Sarawak PGA Brigade Headquarters raided a premises in the Bau district.
The location was suspected of being used to store rattan without a valid permit. Eleven men, comprising eight locals and three foreigners aged between 19 and 58, were arrested. The team seized approximately 15,000 kilograms of rattan and two lorries, with an estimated value of RM490,000.
The suspects and the seized items were handed over to the Bau District Police and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) for further investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 30 of the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and Sections 26(1) and 23(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
In the third success, also on May at around 9.30 am, a team from the Research Branch of the 10th Battalion PGA Sibu raided a residence in the Sibu district.
A 49-year-old local man was arrested for allegedly storing various protected wildlife species without a permit. The raid led to the seizure of 35 wildlife specimens of various species, 84 kilograms of coral, and eight units of animal confinement equipment. The estimated value of the seizure was RM34,730. The case was handed over to the SFC Sibu Division for further investigation under Section 29(2) of the Wildlife Ordinance 1998.
ACP Rosdi said that from 1 January to May 22, Ops Taring conducted by the Sarawak PGA Brigade recorded a total of 188 cases, with 297 individuals arrested, including 222 locals and 75 foreigners. A total of 178 vehicles of various types were also seized, with the overall seizure value reaching RM243 million.
He added that the success of the operations demonstrates the commitment and cooperation of the Sarawak PGA Brigade in tackling criminal activities and protecting national security and natural resources.
By Connie Chieng