Tanah merah: The 8th Battalion of the General Operations Force (GOF) seized various types of timber worth over RM19 million following checks at two sawmills in Tanah Merah yesterday. GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid stated that the first seizure involved 33 bundles of timber, round logs, timber-processing equipment, and a lorry at a sawmill near Jalan Bukit Kechik.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the investigations revealed that the sawmill was operating without a licence from the Forestry Department, and the timber was untaxed. The operation led to the detention of the 60-year-old owner and a 27-year-old lorry driver, with the seized materials valued at RM10.98 million. The case is currently being investigated under the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313) and has been referred to the Kelantan Forestry Department for further action.

In another raid, the GOF seized various types of timber after checking a sawmill in Kampung Bukit Pauh, valued at RM8.2 million. The seizure included 45 piles of processed wood, five piles of logs, timber-processing equipment, and a heavy machine. Further checks indicated that the sawmill had repeatedly reused the forest product transfer pass to evade detection by the authorities.

The seized items were handed over to the Kelantan Forestry Department for further action, and the case is being investigated under Section 3(2) of the Wood-Based Industries Enactment 1985.