Malaysian Army foils RM142,000 rice smuggling attempt in Serikin

KUCHING (Jan 23): The Malaysian Army successfully crippled a cross-border smuggling syndicate worth RM142,000 on Thursday night after intercepting a 10-tonne lorry loaded with rice in Serikin, preventing it from entering a neighbouring country.

According to the Eastern Field Command media operations cell, the incident occurred at 9.40pm when personnel on patrol detected a lorry moving at high speed under suspicious circumstances along an illegal route.

Field analysis confirmed the vehicle was heading from Kampung Serikin directly toward the international border.

“Malaysian Army forces acted swiftly to cordon off the route and detain the lorry, along with its 38-year-old local male driver, just a few kilometres before it reached the international border, thereby foiling the syndicate’s tactic of using illegal routes to smuggle goods out of the country,” it said in a statement.

A physical inspection revealed 320 sacks of rice valued at RM64,000, and the lorry itself, valued at RM78,000, was also seized.

All items, along with the detained individual, were handed over to the Bau District Police Headquarters for further action.

The Malaysian Army reaffirmed its commitment to securing the Malaysia–Indonesia border and safeguarding national sovereignty against illegal immigration, smuggling, and cross-border crime.

The public is urged to report any suspicious activity along illegal border routes to help strengthen collective security.

Eastern Field Commander Lt-Gen Dato’ Mohd Sofi Md Lepi described the success as a reflection of strong integrity, urging all army personnel, particularly in Sarawak and Sabah, to maintain unity, close ranks, and continue serving with honesty and trustworthiness in defence of the nation.