GOF seizes 1.2 tonnes of suspected smuggled rice in Tumpat

Kota Bharu, November 10 — The General Operations Force (GOF) apprehended a significant quantity of rice, suspected to have been smuggled from Thailand, during a recent operation. The seizure, comprising 1,216 kilogrammes of various brands, weighed in at RM4,864. This occurred as part of Operation Taring Wawasan Kelantan, near Tumpat on November 9 around 4pm.

Strike Force Company B of Battalion 7 in Kuantan GOF were patrolling the route between Kota Bharu and Pengkalan Kubor when they noticed a Nissan Vanette van acting suspiciously. South-east Brigade Commander Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain explained that the van driver tried to flee upon seeing the police but the vehicle ended up skidding in Kampung Kubang Panjang.

Upon further inspection, 49 sacks of rice were found in the van, including 750 kg under the Mangga label, 250 kg under Nangka, 120 kg under Serindit, 72 kg under Angsa Mas, and 24 kg under Pisang. A 35-year-old local man driving the van was detained for further investigation. The rice is believed to have been imported from Thailand via an illicit route at Pohon Tar base in Kuala Jambu and then transported to Pasir Puteh, according to preliminary investigations.

Ahmad Radzi noted that the case has been forwarded to the Kelantan State Padi and Rice Regulatory Department to be dealt with under Section 20 of the National Padi and Rice Regulatory Act 1994. Along with the rice, the authorities seized the Nissan Vanette van, valued at RM18,000, raising the total value of the seizure to RM22,864.