A lorry driver and his attendant were arrested after authorities uncovered RM85,000 worth of plant saplings believed to have been smuggled from Thailand during an operation in Kelantan on Wednesday.
The two local men, aged 37 and 33, were detained by personnel from the General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade at about 6.30pm along the roadside in Kampung Tok Deh.
GOF Southeast Brigade commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said an inspection of the lorry led to the discovery of 1,300 plant saplings comprising guava, bougainvillaea, lotus, bromeliad, rose, kaffir lime and cermai.
He said the total value of the seizure, including the lorry used to transport the plants, was estimated at RM235,600.
Initial investigations found that the 37-year-old suspect had been working as the lorry driver since early 2025 and was paid between RM150 and RM200 per day to transport the plants.
According to Ahmad Radzi, the driver claimed he carried out five to six deliveries outside Kelantan every month, while both suspects told investigators that the latest shipment was intended for Pahang.
The case is being investigated under Section 6 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976.
Both suspects, together with the seized lorry and plant saplings, have been handed over to the Kelantan Agriculture Department for further investigation and subsequent action.
