GOF seizes 1.2 tonnes of suspected Thai smuggled rice in Tumpat

File picture of General Operations Force personnel at the Malaysia-Thai border. The GOF seized 1,216 kilogrammes of various brands of rice suspected to have been smuggled from Thailand during a raid in Kampung Kubang Panjang, Tumpat, yesterday. — Bernama pic

First Published: Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 10:44 AM MYT

KOTA BHARU, Nov 10 — The General Operations Force (GOF) seized 1,216 kilogrammes of various brands of rice suspected to have been smuggled from Thailand during a raid in Kampung Kubang Panjang, Tumpat, yesterday.

The seizure, valued at RM4,864, was made during Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan at about 4pm after members of Strike Force Company B, Battalion 7 of the Kuantan GOF, spotted a suspicious Nissan Vanette van while patrolling the Kota Bharu-Pengkalan Kubor route.

South-east Brigade Commander Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the van driver allegedly attempted to flee upon noticing the presence of the police, but the vehicle subsequently skidded in the Kampung Kubang Panjang area.

An inspection of the van uncovered 49 sacks of rice of various brands, comprising 750 kg bearing the Mangga label, 250 kg with the Nangka label, 120 kg with the Serindit label, 72 kg with the Angsa Mas label and 24 kg with the Pisang label.

“A 35-year-old local man who was driving the van was detained for investigation,” he said in a statement.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the rice was believed to have been brought in from Thailand through the illegal Pohon Tar base in Kuala Jambu before being transported to Pasir Puteh.

Ahmad Radzi said the case had been handed over to the Kelantan State Padi and Rice Regulatory Department for further action under Section 20 of the National Padi and Rice Regulatory Act 1994.

Apart from the rice, the authorities also seized the Nissan Vanette van, valued at RM18,000, bringing the total value of the seizure to RM22,864. — Bernama