TUMPAT: A rice smuggler was caught red-handed with nearly 300kg of Thai rice in Pengkalan Kubor yesterday.
The suspect was driving his Proton Satria when he was arrested by the General Operations Force (GOF) around 6pm.
GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the personnel were conducting Op Taring Wawasan when they spotted a suspicious vehicle near the illegal jetty at Kebun.
"After inspecting the car, they found it laden with smuggled rice in several gunny sacks. The rice, worth more than RM1,000, had been smuggled from Thailand for local distribution," he added.
"They then detained the 22-year-old suspect."
In another development, he said the GOF seized 20 boxes of Thai junk food valued at nearly RM5,000 in Pasir Mas yesterday.
However, no one was arrested during the 3.30pm operation at Kampung Tok Rusa.
"The junk food, which had been smuggled from Thailand, would have been distributed to sundry shop operators in Pasir Mas and the surrounding areas," he added.