TUMPAT: Smugglers are believed to have taken advantage of rising water levels in the Golok River to transport seven deer from Thailand into Kelantan by boat before the animals were intercepted by police early today.
The deer, kept in five wooden crates inside a lorry, were seized during an operation by the General Operations Force (GOF) Seventh Battalion under Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan.
GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the animals were seized from the lorry at Chabang Empat Tok Mek Ngah.
He said a 31-year-old man was also arrested during the 4.15am operation.
“The GOF Task Force from the Seventh Battalion spotted the suspicious vehicle during a mobile patrol in the border area.
“Further inspection showed seven deer in five wooden crates in the lorry’s cargo compartment.
“The driver failed to produce any valid permit, licence or documentation to prove the animals’ origin and authorisation for transportation,” he said.
Radzi said checks found that the lorry driver had collected the deer from the Pohon Ta illegal jetty and was on his way to Terengganu when he was stopped by GOF personnel.
The seized items included an Isuzu lorry worth RM80,000 and seven deer estimated to be worth RM35,000.
The case has been referred to the Kelantan Veterinary Services Department for further action.
It is being investigated under Section 36(1) of the Animals Act.