KOTA BHARU, Sept 27 — The General Operations Force (GOF) seized 15,000 robusta coffee seedlings and a lorry with a total value of RM1 million during a roadblock at Lalang Pepuyu, Tanah Merah, last night.
GOF Southeast Brigade commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said a 27-year-old man who was driving the lorry was detained during the operation at 11.30pm.
“An inspection of the lorry’s cargo compartment uncovered 15,000 robusta coffee seedlings believed to have been smuggled from Thailand.
“The total value of the seizure was estimated at RM1 million, comprising the lorry worth RM250,000 and the coffee seedlings worth RM750,000,” he said in a statement today.
He said preliminary investigation found that the man had collected the seedlings from an illegal jetty in the Lalang Pepuyu area to deliver them to a nursery in Johor for RM300 per delivery.
“All the seedlings were handed over to the Kota Bharu Agriculture Department for further action as they are suspected of containing pests,” he said.
Ahmad Radzi said the seedlings would be inspected before being disposed of, while a compound could be issued if the offence involving pests was confirmed.
The case is being investigated under the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167), he added. — Bernama
