Two women detained after RM3.47mil agarwood seizure in Kelantan

PASIR MAS: Police detained two women in Kelantan after seizing agarwood worth RM3.47 million in a raid on a house in Kampung Baharu Cherang Hangus. The operation, conducted under Op Taring Wawasan, involved personnel from the GOF 7th Battalion's Intelligence Branch and the Kelantan Forestry Department. The women, aged 19 and 54, were apprehended after presenting suspicious documents linking them to the seized items.

The house, a storeroom, and an adjacent factory revealed 197 agarwood logs, 310.8kg of agarwood pieces, seven plastic drums, and 11 documents. Initial investigations revealed the premises had operated since 2000, holding a license for agarwood collection until its termination in 2016 by the Forestry Department. The factory's owner died in September, and all agarwood was managed by the family.

The wood, obtained from forests and privately owned land across Kelantan since 2016, was seized under Section 84 of the National Forestry Act 1984 for storing it without valid licensing. Agarwood, or 'black gold,' is a highly valuable fragrant wood prized for perfumes and incense.