Saratok police foil illegal transport of control goods worth RM127,000

SARATOK (April 10): Police have foiled an attempt to transport controlled goods without valid documentation with the arrest of three local men and the seizure of cooking oil and sugar worth over RM127,000 at KM52 of Jalan Betong–Sarikei on Thursday.

Saratok police chief DSP Mathew Manggie said the operation was carried out by personnel from the Saratok Criminal Prevention Branch with assistance from the Sarikei Marine Police.

“The operation led to the inspection of a cargo lorry, which resulted in the discovery of controlled goods being transported without any valid ownership documents,” he said in a statement.

He said the three suspects — a 34-year-old lorry driver and two assistants aged 40 and 22 — were arrested during the roadside inspection along the Pan Borneo Highway.

“A total of 442 packets of 1kg cooking oil and 504 packets of 1kg coarse sugar were seized, along with a cargo lorry,” he said, adding that the total value of the seizure was estimated at RM127,774.

Mathew said initial investigations found the driver failed to produce documents proving ownership or authorisation to transport the controlled items.

“The case has been investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, and all arrested individuals and seized items have been handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) office in Sri Aman for further action,” he added.

He also commended the coordination between Saratok police and the Sarikei Marine Police that led to the successful interception.