Bruneian man faces a hefty fine of RM33,000 for possessing smuggled cigarettes

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Xinhua): A 42-year-old Bruneian man has been fined 10,000 Brunei dollars (RM33,000) for possessing contraband cigarettes, local media reported on Tuesday.

According to the local daily Borneo Bulletin, law enforcement officers seized 11 cartons and 15 packets of cigarettes of various brands during a recent operation.

The defendant will face 10 months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

Possession of prohibited goods in Brunei is subject to severe penalties. Brunei is a Southeast Asian country that strictly regulates tobacco and alcohol products.

Under Brunei law, possession of prohibited items carries significant consequences. - Xinhua