KOTA KINABALU – Police seized more than RM33 million of frozen food from several warehouses early this month.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said five raids were made, under Ops Kontraband, around Kota Kinabalu and Papar between January 4 to January 16.
“The first raid was carried out at a warehouse at Jalan Lok Kawi/Kinarut/Papar on January 4.
“The 8.45pm raid saw a total of 17,926 boxes and 212 plastic packets of frozen chicken parts, 22,763 boxes of assorted fish and 2,107 boxes containing sausages and nuggets totaling RM 21.35 million,” he said.
The second raid was also carried out on the same day (January 4) at around 9pm at an industrial area in Papar.
Idris said about 3,468 boxes and 794 plastic packets of frozen chicken valued at RM967,284 were seized.
The third raid saw about RM8.29 million worth of frozen food seized from a warehouse in Kinarut on January 14, while about RM2.553 million of frozen food were also seized by police in a fourth raid in Kinarut on January 15.
The fifth raid was at a warehouse in Putatan where some 2,800 boxes of frozen chicken wings and 760 boxes of frozen chicken thighs valued at RM577,320 were seized on January 16.
Idris said a total of RM33.686 million worth of frozen food were seized by police in the five raids.
He said all the frozen food did not go through the proper import channel, as a means to avoid taxes. They also did not have the halal logo.
He said 33 local men and an Indonesian man, aged 19 to 51, have been remanded to facilitate police investigation.
Idris said based on police investigation, there are nine syndicates that have been identified importing frozen food without Customs’ approval in Sabah, and they are believed to have been in operation for the past 10 years.
“We will continue our investigation and raid to stop this illegal activity,” he said.
The whole operation involved the Royal Malaysian Police, the Wildlife Crime Bureau, Sabah General Operations Force, Sabah Customs Department, and Sabah Veterinary Services Department. – Borneo Post Online, January 18, 2023
