KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Customs officers have seized contraband cigarettes worth more than RM5mil in a raid at a terrace house in Luyang here.
In the operation at 7pm on Wednesday, its enforcement operations unit, together with the elite Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault (Cobra) team found over 5.9 million sticks of various brands of illicit cigarettes.
Sabah Customs assistant-director general Mohd Nasir Deraman said they also arrested a 29-year-old local man in the raid which was conducted after a public tip-off.
He said the seized cigarettes were worth some RM1.18mil, with an estimated unpaid duty amounting to RM4.034mil.
“The modus operandi involved stashing illicit items in a residential house in order to fool the authorities,” he said, during a press conference at the Sabah Customs Enforcement office here yesterday.
He added the suspect is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for smuggling.
It provides for a fine not less than 10 times the value of the items seized or RM100,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
“Those found guilty also face a jail term not less than six months and not more than five years,” Mohd Nasir said.
Towards this end, he urged the people to provide cooperation to the Customs Department in its effort to combat smuggling particularly involving goods such as cigarettes, alcohol, firecrackers and drugs, among others.
“The public can assist us by channelling information related to any smuggling activities by calling the Customs toll-free number at 1 800 88 8855 or by reporting at the nearest Customs offices,” said Mohd Nasir.
