RANTAU PANJANG: The General Operations Force seized over 40,000 orchids worth RM2.1 million here yesterday.
The trees were seized from a lorry at a roadblock at Chabang Empat Salam here, said Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid.
He said the 52-year-old lorry driver was also arrested in the operation.
"A GOF team from the Seventh Battalion stopped the lorry when it passed the roadblock about 10.30am.
"After checking the lorry, the officers found more than 40,000 orchid trees without the necessary documentation.
"They then detained the driver from Rantau Panjang," he said in a statement today.
Ros Azhan said initial investigations showed that the orchids were smuggled to the state from the many illegal jetties along the border.
"We suspect the driver was hired by certain individuals to send the trees to local buyers," he said.
He added the suspect and the seizure have been handed over to the Rantau Panjang police station for further action.
On another development, he said the GOF's Ninth Battalion which was conducting Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan seized 120 kg of smuggled rice in Tumpat yesterday.
However, he said no one was arrested in the 7.45am operation at Kampung Kubang Sawa.
"The rice worth about RM3,500, was left on a motorcycle when it was seized by the GOF members," he said.