Crime watch: Jan 9

Headless body found in Besut... In KUALA TERENGGANU, a highly decomposed and decapitated body was found by passers by on the Tanjung Demong beach in Besut at 8.30 am Friday.

Besut Deputy OCPD DSP Abdul Ghani Awang said the body, clad in only a pair of black shorts, was believed to have been in the water for more than 10 days.

The victim was also believed not to be a local as police had not received any missing person report, he said.

"We have yet to identify the body and anyone with a missing family member should contact the nearest police station," he said, adding that the body was sent to the Jertih Hospital.

In another case, the body of a 33-year-old woman, believed to be mentally unstable, was found in an irrigation canal in Kampung Jeram Muda, Jertih, at about 1 pm Friday, he said.

Ghani said the victim, Rokiah Yusof, 33, from Kampung Apal Besut, was reported to have left her house at 7 pm Thursday.

The body was later claimed by the family.

Traffic police to launch "Ops Sikap 6" From Jan 15... In KUALA LUMPUR, in anticipation of a massive exodus of holiday makers during the Chinese New Year celebrations, Traffic Police will launch "Ops Sikap 6" beginning Jan 15 to 29 in efforts to reduce the number of road accidents.

Federal Traffic Chief, SAC 1 Koh Hong Sun said that during Ops Sikap 6, police would be even more stringent against errant motorists.

"We will deploy more personnel, combining static operations, patrols and issuing summonses," he said after a meeting with State Traffic Chiefs at Bukit Aman, here Thursday.

He said traffic policemen would be assigned to 183 areas identified as accident-prone nationwide.

Koh said focus would be given to federal roads, state roads and town roads as 85 percent of fatal accidents occurred in these areas.

He said police would also set up a secretariat for Ops Sikap 6 at Bukit Aman and State Contingent Headquarters to monitor the operation.

In addition, police will also use helicopters and collaborate with Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) to monitor traffic flow from the air.

He also said that vehicles found using emergency lanes on highways would be slapped with a RM300 fine.

Koh added that police would also form a Rapid Action Unit to be stationed at nine toll plazas and Rest and Recreation areas along the PLUS highway to respond immediately to any accidents.

He said the unit would also comprise personnel from Civil Defence Department, Fire and Rescue Department, St John Ambulance and PLUS.

Marine Police detain Myanmar boat with prohibited items... In PENANG, Marine Police here thwarted an attempt to smuggle a consignment of liqour, cigarettes and cigars from Myanmar into the country when they detained a boat early Friday morning.

Northern Region Marine Police Chief ACP Mohd Sueb Abdullah said the boat, used to transport goods from Myanmar to Malaysia, was found with prohibited brands of cigarettes, cigars and liquor hidden among items meant for barter trade.

He said the boat was detained at 1 am and the case had been handed over to the Royal Malaysian Customs.

The operators of the boat had hidden the prohibited items among products used in the barter trade, he said.

The boat, which normally brings in shrimps, crabs, fish and squids from Myanmar for trading, was found with cigarettes - Golden Triangle (150 cartons) London (500 cartons) and Vegas (150 cartons).

It also had 216 bottles of Myanmar Whisky, 240 bottles of Myanmar Rum and 3,000 Myanmar cigars wrapped in a sack.

The goods, worth about RM250,000, are believed to be for sale to local Myanmar nationals.

Apart from confiscating the boat and items, Marine Police also detained 15 Myanmar nationals, aged between 20 and 40.

Mohd Sueb said the case would be investigated under Section 135 of the Customs Act 1967.

Fake cigarettes worth RM1 mil seized... In BUTTERWORTH, the Seberang Prai Enforcement Division of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry Thursday seized 186,000 packets of fake Marlboro cigarettes, worth some RM1 million, at the Bagan Dalam wharf here.

Its Deputy Chief, Mohamed Yusoof Ambalam, said the seizure of the cigarettes, in a container at the wharf, was with the cooperation of the Royal Customs Department.

The container was carrying 372 boxes, each with 50 cartons of the cigarettes, confirmed by the trade mark owner as being fake, he said here Friday.

The conveyance agent has been detained for questioning.

The cigarettes are believed to have been en route from Singapore to Indonesia.

Seremban pirated optic disc stockist busted... In SEREMBAN, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry's Negeri Sembilan enforcement unit seized 5,000 pirated video compact discs (VCDs), digital video discs (DVDs) and compact discs (CDs) at a house in Taman Harapan Baru here Thursday.

Its Director, Mohd Aris Ariffin, said in the 5 pm raid officers found 1,000 VCDs, DVDs and CDs in one room.

"While they were busy putting the discs into boxes, there was a creaking sound from the ceiling and upon checking, they found a 40-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy hiding there with the remaining optic discs," he said Friday.

The duo were detained, he said, adding that the house was believed to have been used to stock optic discs for distribution in the State.

The contraband, worth RM32,500, included the latest movies like Lord Of The Rings, Bad Santa, High Ambition, Timeline and Cheaper By The Dozen.

Customs seize fire crackers in Padang Besar... In PADANG BESAR, the Perlis Customs Department Thursday night foiled an attempt to smuggle 100 boxes of fire crackers and sparklers into the country here.

Its chief, Saidi Ismail, said the contraband, hidden under a cargo of 800 mats, was seized after checks were conducted on a lorry at the Padang Besar checkpoint at 9.30 pm.

He said the lorry driver and an assistant, both in their 30s, were detained.

The fire crackers, worth RM45,000, was believed to be for the coming Chinese New Year, he said.