KOTA KINABALU: Police believe they have crippled a syndicate smuggling untaxed cigarettes and alcoholic drinks with the seizure of almost RM8mil of the contraband items in the east coast Sandakan district.
The items were seized in raids under the operation codenamed “Ops Kontraban” at three separate locations in the district on Thursday (Jan 19).
Three local men, aged between 29 and 45, were also arrested in the operation, jointly carried out by the Bukit Aman Intelligence and Special Investigations branch, the General Operations Force (GOF) and Sandakan district police.
“With the seizure and arrests, we believe we have cut off the syndicate’s smuggling network in Sandakan,” said Sabah police commissioner Comm Datuk Idris Abdullah when contacted on Saturday (Jan 21).
He said they mounted the raids, from 11am to 2.30pm, at two warehouses and a house following a tip-off.
After storming the locations, he said they found contraband cigarettes valued at RM5,950,740.09.
The raiding team also found an assortment of untaxed alcoholic beverages worth RM1,714,437, he added.
“We also seized two vans and a lorry that we believe were used to transport the illicit items.
“Altogether, the items were worth RM7,915,177.45,” Comm Idris said.
He said police believed the three suspects were looking after the premises as well as acting as drivers to move around the items.
“The suspects have been handed over to the Sabah Customs Department for further investigations under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967,” he added.
