KUCHING: The Sarawak General Operations Force (GOF) made its largest ever haul of contraband alcohol, cigarettes in a single day worth RM1.14 million during Ops Libas at two separate locations on Friday.
GOF commander SAC Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said the items were seized in Kota Samarahan and Limbang.
Two people, a 39-year-man and a 49-year-old woman, were detained in the operation after failing to produce documents for the illicit items.
Both suspects were arrested to facilitate investigation under Section 135(1) (d) of the Custom Act 1967.
“This is a huge success for the Sarawak GOF because in one day, as we managed to arrest the culprits and seized a large amount of the contrabands,” he told a press conference at the Sarawak GOF Headquarters in Batu Kawa here yesterday.
Khaw revealed that a team comprising GOF officers and personnel and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) personnel raided a premises next to a lorry workshop at Jalan Muara Tuang in Kota Samarahan at around 3pm on July 26.
“A total of 5,790 cartons of cigarettes from 102 boxes worth RM970,200 (including tax) were found at the premises. A 39-year-old man, the store keeper and the owner of the illicit items were arrested during the operation and was brought to the Kota Samarahan district headquarters for further action.”
In a separate raid, Khaw said the 12th Battalion of General Operations Force raided a house in Sungai Poyan, Jalan Kubonh, Limbang and found contraband alcoholic beverages of different brands and cigarettes worth RM172,274 (including tax) stored there.
“Following the raid, we managed to seize 147 bottles of alcoholic beverages of various brands, four boxes (94 cans) of beer, 102 cartons of cigarettes of various brands, a sedan car and a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle,” he said, adding that a 49-year-old woman who is the owner of the illicit items was apprehended for further action.
