A wood processing factory in Gerdong, Kuala Berang, was raided by the General Operations Force (PGA) Battalion 9 after it was suspected of operating without a valid licence.
The raid, carried out at about 1pm yesterday, resulted in the seizure of 141 logs believed to be untaxed, along with various equipment and other items estimated to be worth RM640,510.
Southeast Brigade PGA commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said a 20-year-old man believed to be a worker at the premises was also detained during the operation.
Initial inspections found various types of timber being stored and processed at the factory without valid proof that the required taxes had been paid. Officers also found that the man at the premises could not produce documents or licences relating to the factory’s operations or the timber kept there.
Ahmad Radzi said preliminary investigations indicated that the factory owner was suspected of running the operation without complying with licensing requirements and regulations imposed by the authorities.
Investigators also believe the purchase of timber was conducted through middlemen to prevent direct links to the factory owner. Payments for the transactions were allegedly made in cash without official records, making the dealings harder for authorities to trace and financially verify.
The seizure highlights ongoing enforcement efforts against suspected illegal timber activities, particularly operations involving unlicensed processing and timber without proper taxation records.
The case is being investigated further, while authorities continue to establish the source of the seized timber and the parties involved in the suspected operation.
