KUCHING: The Sarawak General Operations Force (GOF) recorded seizures worth RM5,497,813 from four operations carried out last week, involving illegal logging, liquor, diesel and drugs.

Its commander, Senior Asst Comm Dr Che Ghazali Che Awang, said that the four successful operations – Op Taring Alpha, Op Taring Bravo, Op Taring Awas, and Op Libas – were carried out between June 23 and 28 in Kuching, Sibu, Miri, and Lundu.

He said the biggest haul was recorded by the 10th Battalion of the Sibu GOF, during Op Libas on June 24, where an illegal logging site was raided, resulting in the arrest of three men, aged 39 to 57, and the seizure of 350 logs.

“Also seized was a wood-cutting machine, bringing the estimated total value of the seized items to RM3.504mil, based on market price,” he said in a statement on Monday (June 30).

Under Op Taring Alpha on June 23, the GOF Investigation Branch raided premises here and seized 32,736 litres of various brands of liquor without customs duty approval, in addition to arresting five local men, aged between 26 and 36.

“Also seized was a lorry, and the estimated total value of the seizure was RM1,457,648, according to market price.

Through Op Taring Bravo, in Miri on June 25, a team from the GOF Miri raided premises in the district, arresting two local men, aged 32 and 45, and seizing 39,300 litres of diesel stored without a permit.

A diesel storage tank and a lorry were also seized during the operation, bringing the total value of the seizure to RM486,065.

Under Op Taring Awas on June 28, a team from the 11th Battalion of the Kuching GOF arrested three local men, aged between 23 and 36, in a vehicle in Lundu, and seized a transparent packet containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine, weighing 0.32g. The total value of the seizure, including the vehicle, was RM50,100.

He said that, from Jan 1 to June 30, Sarawak GOF recorded total seizures amounting to RM290.3mil, involving 236 cases and 355 arrests. A total of 264 locals and 91 foreigners were arrested, with 193 vehicles of various types impounded.- Bernama