Sarawak: The General Operations Force (GOF) Sarawak Brigade has successfully seized a significant haul of contraband cigarettes and liquor valued at RM9.3 million during Operasi Kontraban Mega, an operation conducted simultaneously across the state from August 26 to 29.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the operation was spearheaded by SAC Lim Bak Phai, the commander of the GOF Sarawak Brigade. It involved five battalions: the Sarawak GOF Brigade Headquarters in Kuching, the 10th Battalion GOF in Sibu, the 11th Battalion GOF in Kuching, the 12th Battalion GOF in Miri, and the 23rd Battalion GOF in Sri Aman. Over the course of four days, a total of 29 raids and inspections were executed in locations including Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Sibu, Miri, Limbang, and Bintulu.

The operation resulted in the arrest of 38 individuals, including 24 local men, 12 women, and a foreign couple, aged between 18 and 72 years. The contraband seized included 13,530 cartons of various brands of white cigarettes, 2,549 cartons of kretek cigarettes, 85,225.17 liters of liquor, a quantity of firecrackers, and five vehicles of different types.

Lim detailed the total estimated value of the seized items as RM9.33 million, with cigarettes accounting for RM5.69 million, liquor for RM3.18 million, and other goods for RM468,434. All individuals arrested and the seized items have been handed over to the respective district police headquarters for further investigation under various sections of the Malaysian Customs Act 1967, the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Explosives Act 1957, and the Local Authorities Ordinance 1996.

Furthermore, Lim noted that from January 1 to August 29 this year, the GOF Sarawak Brigade recorded 357 cases, resulting in seizures valued at RM322.7 million, and involving 467 arrests and 241 vehicles.