Trader suspected of sourcing frozen chicken from Thailand arrested in raid

General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the matter came to light following the arrest of a 38-year-old man during an Op Salju Mega raid at a premises along Jalan Pasir Puteh, Kampung Pasir Tumboh, at about noon yesterday. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

First Published: Wednesday, 11 Nov 2026 1:19 PM MYT

-KOTA BHARU, Nov 11 — A frozen chicken trader in Pasir Tumboh, here, is suspected of obtaining between 300 and 500 boxes of stock from a supplier in Thailand before selling them at his wholesale premises.

General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the matter came to light following the arrest of a 38-year-old man during an Op Salju Mega raid at a premises along Jalan Pasir Puteh, Kampung Pasir Tumboh, at about noon yesterday.

He said the suspect claimed that the frozen chicken had been brought into the country legally through the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex before being sold at his wholesale outlet.

“An inspection by the enforcement team uncovered 209 boxes of frozen chicken, weighing 2,508 kilogrammes and worth RM42,845, stored in a refrigerated container at the premises,” he said in a statement last night.

He added that the raid was conducted by the Intelligence Branch of the GOF 8th Battalion in collaboration with the Kota Bharu Municipal Council - Islamic City (MPKB-BRI).

According to him, the inspection also found that the trader had failed to produce valid business documents, proof of ownership or authorisation to store the frozen chicken.

Following this, MPKB-BRI issued an offence notice and a compound notice against the man for operating a business without a valid licence and improperly disposing of waste in a public area.

Ahmad Radzi said the suspect and the seized items had been handed over to MPKB-BRI for further action, while the relevant documentation had been forwarded to the Kelantan branch of the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

He said unlicensed business activities not only hampered monitoring by the authorities but could also result in revenue losses for the state government through unpaid licence fees and other related charges.

“This situation can also create unfair competition for business operators who comply with regulations, while undermining the effectiveness of enforcement by local authorities,” he said.

He added that continuous monitoring would be carried out to ensure business activities complied with licensing requirements and did not compromise cleanliness, public health or community well-being. — Bernama