Rantau panjang: The General Operations Force (GOF) foiled an attempt to smuggle 4,750 saplings worth RM237,500 during the Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan operation at the Sekat Pintas Serongga road checkpoint in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas yesterday. During the 6.20 pm operation, personnel from Company C of the GOF's 8th Battalion based in Pengkalan Chepa also detained a 43-year-old local lorry driver.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, GOF Southeast Brigade commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain revealed that an inspection of a suspicious lorry led to the discovery of 4,000 sentul saplings and 750 coastal she-oak (rhu pantai) saplings. 'The lorry, valued at RM100,000, was also seized, bringing the total value of the seizure to RM337,500,' he stated in a formal announcement.

SAC Ahmad Radzi further explained that the suspect, a resident of Rantau Panjang, is believed to have been involved in the smuggling activity for approximately three months. The suspect admitted to working as a driver for a Thai man known simply as 'Mun'. For each delivery made to nurseries across Kelantan, the suspect was compensated RM300.

The seized items, along with the suspect, were handed over to the Kota Bharu Agriculture Department at about 9 pm for further action. The ongoing investigation is being conducted under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167).