RANTAU PANJANG: A total of 27 smuggled cattle worth about RM94,500 were seized by the army along Kelantan/Thai border. The seizure took place at the Wakaf Zink illegal jetty yesterday.
Eighth Infantry Brigade commander Brig Gen Nazari Abdul Hadi said the cattle were found near bushes at Sungai Golok riverbank at about noon.
"Several soldiers were conducting Ops Wawasan when they heard the sound of a boat engine.
"They went on to check the area and saw two men flee on a boat to the other side of the river.
“The 27 cattle, however, were left behind," he said here today.
Nazari said initial investigation revealed that the cattle were meant for local consumption.
"We believe that their prices are much cheaper in Thailand compared to those sold here, which goes for about RM3,500 per head," he said.
He believed that there would be more attempts to smuggle cattle across the border into Kelantan to meet the high demand for the coming Hari Raya Aidiladha.
"Cattle from Thailand receives high demand from local people here especially during festivals like Hari Raya Aidiladha," he said.