KOTA BARU: The Royal Malaysia Customs Department seized 1,571,800 contraband cigarettes worth RM138,398, with unpaid excise duty of RM966,681.80, in two separate raids in Tumpat and Kota Baru on June 15 and 16.
Kelantan Customs director Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long said the enforcement team also detained three suspects and seized six vehicles, including four lorries.
In the first operation in Tumpat at about 8.30am on June 15, the team seized 115 boxes containing 1,150,000 sticks of cigarettes.
They then detained a man and seized three lorries, he said in a statement Thursday (June 22).
In the second raid on a house in Kota Baru the following day, they nabbed two men and seized 421,800 sticks of cigarettes. The team also seized a lorry and two multi-purpose vehicles.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the modus operandi was to smuggle in the cigarettes from neighbouring countries by sea or river for distribution in this state," he added.
Wan Jamal said the case was being investigated under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967. - Bernama
