RANTAU PANJANG: A lorry driver was arrested here with 15,000 smuggled ornamental plants of various types worth about RM4.5 million on Wednesday.
The lorry was passing Kampung Limau Purut when it was stopped by General Operations Force policemen about 7pm.
GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the GOF Ninth Battalion members were conducting Op Taring Wawasan when they spotted the lorry.
"When checking the vehicle, they found some 15,000 ornamental plants of various types inside it. They then arrested the 53-year-old lorry driver," he said today.
Ros Azhan said the ornamental plants were believed to have been smuggled in from a neighbouring country.
On another matter, he said a local man and a Thai woman were arrested with RM6,000 worth of Thai junk food at Jeram Perdah yesterday.
He said the two, aged 35 and 37, were travelling in a car when they were detained about 8am.
"The Thai foods were believed to be for sale to a few sundry shop owners in the Rantau Panjang area," he added.