JOHOR BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) scored a major haul when it seized more than RM500,000 worth of firecrackers in two separate operations in Kempas here and Muar.

       GOF Battalion 5 commanding officer Supt Dimin Awang said his men also arrested four suspects, including an Indonesian national, between the ages of 27 and 41 years old during the two raids.

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       "In the first operation held at a premises located along Jalan Bukit Kempas 1/6 in Taman Bukit Kempas here, GOF seized 30 large boxes of various firecrackers worth RM31,000 at around 6pm on Monday (April 18).

       "We also seized a van used by the suspects to distribute the firecrackers to small traders around Kempas," he said in a statement here Tuesday (April 19).

       Supt Dimin added in the second operation, GOF seized an array of firecrackers worth RM500,000 from a house along Jalan Indah 18/6 at Taman Pertama Indah in Sungai Abong in Muar at around 11pm on the same day.

       He said the Indonesian national and the other suspect were arrested at the premises where his men also seized a lorry.

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       "The successful seizure of a large amount of firecrackers has successfully cut off the supply around Kempas and Muar, especially ahead of the Hari Raya celebration soon," he said.

       Supt Dimin also said the four suspects and the seized items have been handed over to the police for further investigations under the Explosives Act 1957.