Cops foil 2 attempts to smuggle nearly RM1mil in plants from Thailand

PETALING JAYA: The General Operations Force has foiled two attempts to smuggle in plants valued at more than RM900,000 from Thailand.

GOF southeast brigade commander Nik Ros Azhan Nik Hamid said his team stopped a lorry at a roadblock in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, on Thursday and found that it contained 1,500 types of seedlings believed to be smuggled from Thailand, reported Bernama.

He said the plants were infested with mold and pests.

The driver was arrested.

Nik Ros Azhan said the estimated value of the seized goods, including the vehicle, was RM215,000.

The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167).

The second incident took place at Chabang Empat Tumpat, also in Kelantan, at 12.15am yesterday.

GOF personnel intercepted a lorry carrying 3,800 orchid seedlings of various types and two boxes of bamboo stakes suspected to have also been smuggled from Thailand.

Nik Ros Azhan said two men believed to be the couriers were arrested.

The estimated value of the seized goods, including the vehicle, is RM720,300. The case is also being investigated under Act 167.