Latest news with #GOFSoutheastBrigade
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Six nabbed at illegal jetty for attempting to cross border
RANTAU PANJANG: Six people were arrested during a routine patrol under Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan after attempting to cross the border illegally via the Gergaji illegal jetty here last night. The group, detained by the General Operations Force (GOF), comprised four foreigners and two locals. GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said the suspects were nabbed around 7pm upon their arrival at the Golok riverbank. "Personnel from the Ninth Battalion GOF spotted two local men, one Thai man and three Thai women at the Gergaji illegal jetty. "Checks revealed that five of the suspects did not possess valid travel documents to enter or exit Malaysia, while one Thai woman had no form of identification," he said. Datuk Nik Ros said five of the suspects were detained under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. "The woman arrested without identification, is held under Section 6(1)(c) of the same Act," he added. All six have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Pasir Mas district police headquarters for further action. The latest arrests bring the total number of people detained for crossing into Malaysia via illegal routes along the Kelantan-Thai border during a two-week period beginning from the recent Aidiladha celebration, to 43.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
GOF seizes 6 tonnes of coconuts, 8.5 tonnes of rice in border ops
TUMPAT: The General Operations Force (GOF) foiled two separate smuggling attempts involving coconuts and rice worth nearly RM370,000 in operations here yesterday. Two lorry drivers were also arrested for possession of the smuggled goods. GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said in the first incident, a patrol team spotted a suspicious lorry at an illegal jetty in Pengkalan Kubor around 4.30pm. "Upon inspection, they found about 6,000kg of mature coconuts loaded in the back of the vehicle. "The driver failed to produce valid documentation for the goods. "The total value of the seizure, including the lorry, was estimated at RM210,000," he said. The case is being investigated under Section 3(1)(a) of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority Act 1965 (FAMA Act). In a separate operation at 12.30am, another GOF team stopped a lorry at Jalan Kampung Bendang Pak Yong in Simpangan. "The vehicle was found to be carrying 8,500kg of white rice suspected to have been smuggled in from Thailand. "The 23-year-old driver is believed to have been delivering the rice for sale in the local market," he said. The total value of the seizure, including the lorry, was estimated at RM159,000. The case is being investigated under Section 20 of the Control of the Padi and Rice Act 1994. Ros Azhan said both cases reflect the persistent smuggling activities along the Malaysia–Thailand border, particularly through ungazetted routes. "The GOF remains committed to intensifying operations such as Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan to curb the flow of contraband and safeguard the country's economic and agricultural interests," he said. He added that enforcement teams would continue to monitor hotspots along the border.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Lorry drivers held for smuggling pest infected plants, cattle from Thailand
TANAH MERAH: Two lorry drivers were arrested following the seizure of various pest-infected ornamental plants and nine cows smuggled from Thailand, worth about RM828,000, by the General Operations Force (GOF) in separate operations here and in Pasir Mas on Sunday. GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said that in the first operation, various ornamental plants were confiscated from a lorry at a roadblock in Lalang Pepuyu. After inspecting the lorry, GOF personnel found 40 Fragrea fragrans, nine Juniperus chinensis, one Salix babylonica, and a total of ten Crescentia alata plants. "The plants are suspected to be infested with pests and diseases," he said. Nik Ros Azhan said the 24-year-old driver was arrested. The estimated value of the seizure, including the lorry, was RM750,000, he added. Meanwhile, in Pasir Mas, Nik Ros Azhan said GOF personnel found nine smuggled cows from Thailand in a lorry in Kampung Kolam near Gelang Mas. The driver was arrested and the cows have been handed over to the Kelantan Department of Veterinary Services. The estimated total value of the seizure, including the lorry, was RM78,000.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- The Sun
GOF foils two attempts to smuggle daily necessities in Tumpat
KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) thwarted two attempts at smuggling daily necessities, with over RM64,000 worth of goods seized in two separate incidents around Tumpat yesterday. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said that in the first incident at 11.30 am, a team from Battalion 9 of the GOF, which was conducting Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan, stopped a four-wheel drive vehicle at an illegal Kayu Kampung Store base. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the team found 603 kilogrammes (kg) of frozen food, 240 kg of frozen chicken and a variety of grocery items believed to have been smuggled in from Thailand. 'The driver, a 48-year-old woman, is believed to be delivering the goods for the local market. 'The total value of the seizures, including the vehicle, is estimated at RM62,000, and the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967. The suspect and the items seized have been handed over to the Customs Department in Pengkalan Kubor,' he said in a statement today. Meanwhile, in the second incident at Kampung Cherang Melintang, Tumpat, at about 9 am, a GOF patrol team found an abandoned vehicle in front of a house. 'Upon inspection, the team found 650 kg of various types of rice believed to have been smuggled from Thailand, with the value estimated at RM2,600,' he said, Nik Ros Azhan said the case is being investigated under Section 20 of the Control of Padi and Rice Act1994, and that the seized items had been handed over to the Padi and Rice Regulatory Board. 'The GOF is committed to enhancing border control in curbing smuggling activities, which not only affect the national economy, but also impact the safety and prosperity of the people,' he said.
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Two Thai women among five nabbed using illegal jetties to enter Malaysia
RANTAU PANJANG: Two Thai women were among five individuals arrested by the General Operations Force (GOF) for entering the country through illegal routes. The five were detained at three separate locations here between 8.45am and 1.30pm yesterday. GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said the arrests were made during a surveillance operation under 'Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan' in the Rantau Panjang area. "The suspects, three Malaysian men and two Thai women, were apprehended at three illegal jetties, namely Parkir, Pohon Jambu, and MCA. "The Thai women were found to have entered Malaysia without valid travel documents," he said. Nik Azhan added that the three Malaysian men tested positive for methamphetamine and ketamine. "They were detained under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said. He added that the GOF would continue efforts to curb illegal border crossings along Malaysia's borders. In a separate case, a Thai woman was detained for smuggling frozen chicken and food items worth RM62,000 in Tumpat yesterday. The 48-year-old woman was arrested during a raid at a store in Pengkalan Kubor. "Also seized in the 11.30am operation was a four-wheel drive vehicle used to transport the goods," he said. He added that the 602kg of frozen food and 240kg of frozen chicken had been smuggled from Thailand for local distribution.
