PGA Seizes Timber Worth RM107,000, Detains Lorry Driver

KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (PGA) seized 70 pieces of timber and a lorry with a total value of RM107,000 in an operation at Kampung Repek, Pasir Mas, yesterday.

Commander of the PGA Southeast Brigade, Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain, said the seizure was carried out through Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan conducted by the Strike Force members of B Company, 8th Battalion PGA Pengkalan Chepa, in collaboration with the Tanah Merah Forestry Department.

In the operation at 6.45 p.m., the team stopped a green Hino lorry that was acting suspiciously during a patrol in the area.

“Inspection of the rear cargo section of the vehicle found 70 pieces of forest timber believed to have been transported without a permit or valid documents from the relevant authorities.

“The vehicle driver failed to produce any documents related to the timber transfer permit to the personnel on duty,” he said in a statement today.

According to him, a 21-year-old local man was detained to assist with the investigation under Section 84 of the National Forestry Act 1984.

“Preliminary investigations found that the suspect claimed to have taken the timber from an orchard area in Kampung Tok Rusa, Meranti, before delivering it to a timber mill around Pusu 40, Pasir Mas, for a fee of RM40 per trip.

“The case and seized items have been handed over to the Tanah Merah District Forestry Department for further action,” he said.

Bernama