KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) busted a latex theft syndicate operating in Sungai Petani and seized RM66,000 worth of goods.
On Jan 11, a team of officers from LGM's Inspectorate & Enforcement Unit raided a factory premise after receiving complaints about rubber latex being sold illegally on the black market.
Acting on a public tip-off and surveillance, the team carried out surveillance at the premises for an undisclosed amount of time before they raided the place.
The raiding team led by the Unit head, Mohd Azafi Kee Mohd Idris carried out a thorough inspection of the premises and found RM45,000 worth of unprocessed latex and rubber stored, ready to be sold in the black market, illegally.
Preliminary checks showed that the rubber was illegally obtained without proper permit from the board, said Mohd Azafi.
"Under the Malaysian Rubber Board's Act 2014, it is an offence to have unprocessed rubber or latex in one's possession, without the necessary licence or approval.
"According to Rule 31 (a) of the Malaysian Rubber Board Act 201, anyone found guilty could be punishable to a RM100,000 fine and three year jail, or both," he said in the video recording posted on Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani's Facebook page today.
Mohd Azafi said the team seized 12 sheets of raw rubber sheets and six barrels of liquid rubber weighing a total of 12 tonnes at the scene.
"LGM will continue to carry out operations to regulate the rubber industry and fight against illegal theft and sales of latex rubber to unauthorised parties.
"We urge the public to channel any information about suspected illegal activities related to rubber industry via the SISPAA - LGM Public Complaint Management System," he said.