An elderly man was arrested by the General Operations Force (GOF) after officers seized 1.53 tonnes of cooking oil believed to have been intended for smuggling through an illegal jetty at Jeram Perdah on Tuesday.
The 63-year-old suspect allegedly admitted he was paid RM50 for every delivery and had been involved in the activity for about a year. His arrest came during Op Taring Wawasan, following intelligence gathered on the smuggling of controlled goods into a neighbouring country.
Southeast Brigade commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said a team from the GOF’s Battalion 8 Intelligence Unit spotted a suspicious Mitsubishi Pajero sport utility vehicle (SUV) entering the illegal Mat Yeh crossing at Kampung Bukit Lata, Jeram Perdah, at around 12.30pm.
Officers approached the vehicle and found the suspect in the driver’s seat. A subsequent inspection uncovered multiple boxes filled with cooking oil, which investigators believe were about to be smuggled into Thailand. The suspect was immediately detained and taken to the Jeram Perdah Police Station for further action.
Authorities also seized the Mitsubishi Pajero used to transport the goods. The total value of the haul is estimated at RM33,825, comprising RM3,825 worth of cooking oil and a vehicle valued at RM30,000. The case highlights the continued challenge faced by enforcement agencies in curbing the illegal movement of subsidised and controlled goods across the country’s borders.
Ahmad Radzi said the case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961. Both the suspect and the seized items have since been handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in Pasir Mas for further investigation and enforcement action.
