Latest news with #AbdulRani
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Daily Express
RM35 million frozen food seized; 29 held
Published on: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025 By: Nora Ahmad Text Size: Abdul Rani showing images of the frozen products seized by PGA Sabah. PAPAR: Frozen food products worth more than RM35 million were seized by the General Operations Force (PGA) Sabah during Ops Taring Chiller, which was conducted simultaneously across 10 districts in the State on Tuesday. The operation from 9am to 10pm also resulted in the arrest of 29 individuals aged between 20 and 60, comprising premise owners and workers. Advertisement PGA Sabah Brigade Commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias said the operation aimed to curb the storage and sale of frozen food products that violate regulations, in addition to uncovering various related offences. 'This operation is meant to stop the illegal storage and sale of frozen food products and to detect a range of associated violations. 'As a result, we successfully seized various frozen food items and equipment, including chicken parts, beef, lamb, seafood such as fish, prawns, squid and crabs, as well as other products like potatoes, cheese, meatballs, ice cream and more. 'The seizures were made at frozen food storage premises in 10 districts - Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Sandakan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Telupid and Keningau,' he told a press conference at PGA Sabah Brigade Headquarters in Kinarut, Wednesday. The raids also confiscated equipment used in handling frozen products, including chillers, freezers, meat grinders, refrigerated lorries and cold storage containers. 'The total value of all seized items amounts to RM35,452,093.28. 'Initial checks suggest most of the frozen food items are believed to be locally produced but without proper labelling. 'However, it's also possible that some are imported goods that were relabelled or repackaged.' Further inspections uncovered multiple violations, including operating without a business license, breaching Section 15(1) of the Animal Enactment 2015, as well as Regulation 37, Regulation 11, and Regulation 35(1)(B) of the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009 under the Food Act 1983. 'Premise operators were also found to have violated Section 102 and Section 103 of the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171), the Trade Licensing Ordinance 1948 (Local Authority Laws), Regulation 10(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974 and Section 21 of the Supply Control Act 1961,' he said. Abdul Rani added that the integrated operation was conducted with the cooperation of several agencies, including the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services (JPVS), Ministry of Health (MOH), local authorities (PBT) and the Sabah Department of Agriculture. 'This operation successfully curtailed the unauthorised storage and sale of frozen food and the handling of such products in violation of health and safety standards. 'It will be continued from time to time, and we urge all business operators to comply with the regulations set by the authorities,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
7 days ago
- The Star
RM35.4mil worth of frozen food seized from unlicensed premises, 29 held in Sabah-wide ops
KOTA KINABALU: Authorities have seized over RM35.4mil worth of frozen food products and detained 29 individuals in a major crackdown on unlicensed storage and distribution centres across Sabah. The coordinated operation, dubbed Ops Taring Chiller, was carried out simultaneously in 10 districts on Tuesday (July 15), targeting warehouses and key distribution hubs suspected of operating without valid permits. Sabah General Operations Force (GOF) Brigade Commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias ( pic ) said the operation — based out of Kinarut — involved 275 personnel from various enforcement agencies. They were joined by officers from the Sabah Veterinary Services Department, the Health Ministry, and the Sabah Agriculture Department. 'In total, 29 individuals — 22 men and seven women aged between 20 and 60 years old — were arrested during raids across Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Sandakan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tenom, and Keningau,' he told a press conference at the PGA Sabah headquarters in Kinarut Wednesday (July 16). The confiscated items included chicken, beef and seafood products, as well as frozen items such as French fries and meatballs. Authorities also seized cold room facilities, industrial freezers, meat slicers and refrigerated trucks. 'Of the total seizure, over RM12mil worth of items were confiscated in Kota Kinabalu alone,' he said. A total of 19 premises were raided — 15 were found to have committed various offences, three were clean, and one was not in operation during the raid. Abdul Rani said six major violations were detected, including operating without a business licence; breaching the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015; Food Act 1983; Local Government Act 1976; Trade Licensing Ordinance 1948; and the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and its regulations. Checks also revealed that most frozen goods were locally repackaged to disguise their origins. 'We believe the items were repackaged domestically to mislead authorities. This operation targeted only storage and distribution centres, not retailers or small sales stores,' he added. He said the raids were conducted following two to three weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, timed to coincide with the early morning start of business operations. 'Most of those arrested were warehouse workers, while the rest were premises owners,' he said. All suspects and confiscated goods have been handed over to the relevant agencies for further action under existing laws. 'This operation will continue in stages with other enforcement agencies. Our main objective is to safeguard consumers and ensure that supplied food is safe and of good quality,' he added.
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Daily Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Frozen goods worth RM35m seized in statewide operation
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 By: Nora Ahmad Text Size: Abdul Rani shows photos of some of the seized products. PAPAR: Frozen food products worth over RM35 million were seized during Ops Taring Chiller, a statewide operation across 10 districts led by the Sabah General Operations Force (PGA) on Tuesday. A total of 29 individuals, including business owners and workers aged between 20 and 60, were detained during the 13-hour joint operation. Advertisement PGA Sabah Brigade Commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias said the operation targeted premises storing or selling frozen goods in breach of food safety, licensing, and supply control regulations. The seized items included various meats, seafood, processed foods, and related equipment such as freezers, meat grinders, and refrigerated trucks. He said the integrated effort involved agencies such as the Veterinary Department, Health Ministry, local authorities, and Agriculture Department, and would continue to ensure better compliance among frozen food operators. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- Borneo Post
RM35.4 million worth of frozen food seized in massive operation across Sabah
Abdul Rani (left) explains the details of 'Ops Taring Chiller' during a press conference at the Sabah Brigade PGA headquarters in Kinarut. PAPAR (July 16): The Sabah Brigade General Operations Force (GOF seized various types of frozen food worth over RM35.4 million during a large-scale operation conducted simultaneously across 10 districts in Sabah on Tuesday. Sabah Brigade GOF Commander Datuk Abdul Rani Alias said the 9am to 8pm operation — codenamed 'Ops Taring Chiller' — also led to the arrest of 29 individuals during raids on several storage warehouses and major distribution centres suspected of operating without valid permits and violating multiple food safety and management regulations. The operation involved the Sabah Veterinary Services Department, the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and the Sabah Agriculture Department. 'A total of 29 individuals, including seven women aged between 20 and 60, were detained during the raids at 15 premises across Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Sandakan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tenom and Keningau,' Abdul Rani said at a press conference held at the Sabah Brigade PGA headquarters in Kinarut on Wednesday. Various frozen food products including chicken, meat, seafood, french fries and meatballs were seized, along with logistics equipment such as cold storage rooms, industrial refrigerators, meat-cutting machines and refrigerated lorries. The total value of the seized items was estimated at RM35,452,000, with Kota Kinabalu accounting for the largest seizure — more than RM12 million. Among the offences detected were operating without a valid business licence and violations of several laws, including Section 15(1) of the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015, the Food Act 1983, Sections 102 and 103 of the Local Government Act 1976, the Trade Licensing Ordinance 1948, Regulation 10(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974, and Section 21 of the Supply Control Act 1961. Further inspections revealed that most of the seized frozen products were locally sourced but had been repackaged without proper labels — a tactic believed to be used to evade detection by the authorities. Abdul Rani emphasized that the operation focused on storage warehouses and distribution centres rather than retail outlets or sales stores. 'Intelligence and surveillance were conducted for two to three weeks before the raids commenced. We moved in as the premises began operations early in the morning,' he said, noting that most of those arrested were warehouse workers and premises owners. He added that similar operations will be conducted to curb activities that breach food safety standards and misuse distribution permits. 'The main objective of this operation is to protect consumer rights, ensure a safe and quality food supply, and eliminate fraud within the national food supply chain,' Abdul Rani stressed.
Borneo Post
15-07-2025
- Borneo Post
RM11.87 million crude palm oil smuggling syndicates busted in Sabah
Among the seizures and arrests made during one of the Op Kontraban (Op Taring Palma) raids. KOTA KINABALU (July 15): The Sabah Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) has dismantled a network of crude palm oil (CPO) smuggling syndicates operating along the west and east coasts of Sabah through a series of raids conducted since January. Sabah Brigade GOF Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rani Alias, said eight raids were carried out under Op Kontraban (Op Taring Palma), involving various GOF battalions. 'The operation involved personnel from BN14 Tawau, BN15 Sandakan, BN16 Kota Kinabalu, BN17 Lahad Datu, BN20 Beluran, BN21 Keningau and BN22 Kunak,' he said in a statement on Tuesday. A total of 26 individuals were arrested — comprising 21 local men, four Filipinos and one Indonesian. Abdul Rani said the suspects were believed to be involved in the illegal storage and transfer of CPO without valid licences and had failed to submit the required documentation. 'The total value of the seizures is estimated at RM11.87 million, which includes CPO worth RM1.89 million, vehicles such as lorries and trailers worth RM9.32 million, and various equipment valued at RM650,890,' he said. He added that the operation successfully disrupted the activities of organised syndicates involved in the illegal distribution and smuggling of CPO across Sabah's coasts. The GOF, he said, will continue to conduct such operations to safeguard public safety and ensure the well-being of the community. Abdul Rani also urged the public to report any suspicious activities in their areas to the authorities.
