KOTA BHARU, A total of 1,000 kilogrammes (kg) of rice worth RM14,260 believed to have been smuggled in from a neighbouring country were seized by Battalion 8 of the General Operations Force (GOF8) during its Ops Taring Wawasan near Jeram Perdah, Pasir Mas, yesterday.

GOF Southeast Brigade commander SAC Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said in a statement that the team intercepted a Proton Wira car driven suspiciously by a suspect at 10 am.

He said as they were about to make the arrest, the suspect exited the vehicle and fled into nearby bushes.

‘We believe the suspect is part of a rice smuggling syndicate and was responsible for delivering the goods to a specific location.

‘Further inspection on the vehicle found several sacks of rice estimated to weigh 1,000 kg which is believed to be intended for the local market in Kelantan,’ he added.

He said the case was classified under Section 20 of the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency