KUCHING: Sarawak General Operations Force (PGA) Brigade has recorded five successful raids under Op Taring Bravo and Op Taring Awas or Batas, with total seizures valued at RM1,166,169.60.
Commander officer, Sarawak PGA Brigade, SAC Dr Che Ghazali Che Awang disclosed that these operations showed their determination in tackling smuggling, illegal transport of controlled items, and drug-related activities across various districts in Sarawak.
In one of the operations carried out on 2 July 2025 in the Bau district, he said police personnel from the 11th Battalion PGA Kuching intercepted a lorry suspected of carrying frozen food where a 25-year-old local man was arrested, and 9,000 kilograms of frozen food items were confiscated along with the vehicle.
The estimated value of the seizure was RM522,000. The case was handed over to the Bau District Veterinary Department for further investigation under Section 17(1) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999.
In another operation earlier the same day, the same PGA team stopped a different lorry also in Bau and arrested a 52-year-old local man.
A further 6,500 kilograms of frozen food were found and seized, along with the vehicle. This seizure was valued at RM367,000. The case was referred to both the Bau District Police Headquarters and the Veterinary Department, investigated under Section 17(1) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999 and Section 15(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
On June 30, an intelligence unit from the 23rd Battalion PGA Sri Aman stopped a Toyota Hilux in Serian and detained a 35-year-old local male suspected of transporting fuel without a valid permit.
The team found 600 litres of diesel and three drums in the vehicle. The total seizure value was RM136,728. The case was handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade’s Serian branch for action under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
Ghazali said another successful raid on June 28 at about 5.30 am in Lundu saw the arrest of three local men aged between 23 and 36.
A search of their vehicle uncovered 0.32 grams of methamphetamine in a clear plastic packet. A Toyota Hilux single cab was also seized. The total estimated value of the seizure was RM50,100. The case was referred to the Lundu District Police for further investigation under Sections 12(2) and 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Meanwhile on July 5 at 8 pm, the 23rd Infantry Battalion PGA raided a motorvan vehicle around the Tebedu district, Sarawak suspected of carrying subsidised sugar and arrested a 39-year-old local man.
Seized were 576 kilograms of sugar and the vehicle valued RM62,141.60.
He further revealed that from 1 January to 30 June 2025, the Sarawak PGA Brigade recorded a total of 236 cases with seizures valued at RM290.3 million.
A total of 355 individuals were arrested during this period, comprising 264 locals and 91 foreigners. The operations also resulted in the seizure of 193 vehicles of various types.
By Connie Chieng