BA KELALAN: The General Operations Force (GOF) continues to thwart the attempted smuggling of subsidised controlled items from Ba Kelalan to neighbouring Long Bawan, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Following a public tip-off, GOF personnel led by Head of C Company, Limbang, ASP Paul Paran arrested a local and confiscated his goods.
Paul said the suspect was caught at Puneng Kelalan Road at 6.20am yesterday with a four-wheel-drive (4WD) laden with 528 litres of diesel, two cylinders of gas, 336kg sugar, 238kg (14 boxes) cooking oil and 80 kg of flour.
The case has been referred to the Ministry of Domestic Trades, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) for further action.
It was the 11th case nabbed by PGA involving 10 vehicles (4WD) laden with hundreds of thousands ringgit worth of subsidised and controlled items.
Lawas MP Dato Henry Sum Agong commended GOF Limbang for their efforts in the fight against smuggling.
Henry’s office received numerous public complaints on the rampant smuggling of subsidised goods from Lawas to neighbouring Indonesia.
He hoped the authorities would continue to step up enforcement and urged locals to cooperate with the authorities, so legal action could be taken against the offenders.
Henry said smuggling in any form should be condemned as government subsidised goods were meant to benefit locals and reduce their financial burden, especially those in rural areas.
Henry urged enforcement agencies to conduct frequent checks on trading premises in Lawas District and Ba’Kelalan to ensure traders did not commit malpractices to the detriment of locals.
