KUCHING: The General Operations Force (GOF) 11th Battalion here seized nearly RM2.5 million worth of coral rocks at a premises in Kampung Pandan, Lundu on Friday.
Its commanding officer Supt Rosdi Inai said the seizure was made during a raid jointly conducted with the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) during Ops Bersepadu Khazanah at around 11pm.
Rosdi noted that this was the first of its kind in Sarawak for such seizure to be made in a huge volume.
“All the corals discovered were protected animal under the Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998.
“Further investigation revealed that a 56-year-old local man believed to be the owner of the premises failed to produce valid documentations of licence and permit in relation to the corals,” he told a press conference at its headquarters yesterday.
He pointed out that the man was detained under Section 29 (2) of the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998.
“It is said that the corals were obtained at our waters at Tanjung Datu and to be exported to Singapore and United Kingdom.
“We believe that they have been in operation for the past few years,” he said, adding SFC was carrying out further investigation.
Rosdi noted if convicted, the suspect could be fined RM10,000 and imprisoned for up to a year.
