GEORGE TOWN: A 54-year-old man was arrested following the seizure of 4,400 cartons of contraband cigarettes worth more than RM600,000 during a special operation on Nov 1.
Penang Region One Marine Police Force deputy commanding officer Supt Rohizan Mohamad Saaid said the suspect was arrested at KM166.5 of the North-South Expressway, northbound, after the marine police intelligence unit spotted the suspect behaving suspiciously in a white van at about 6am.
"An inspection found that the van used a fake registration number meant to avoid police detection," he said during a press conference at the Batu Uban marine police base on Thursday (Nov 2).
Supt Rohizan said during the arrest, police found 55 sacks containing 4,400 cartons of contraband cigarettes or equivalent to 528,000 cigarette sticks.
He said the contraband items were worth RM609,840 including tax.
Supt Rohizan said interrogation found that the suspect acted as a transporter and received payment of RM500 per trip.
He said police believed the suspect was also part of a smuggling syndicate that has been active for the past three months.
He said further checks on the suspect found that he had a criminal record.
Supt Rohizan said the suspect will be remanded for 10 days until Nov 10 to assist in investigations and will be handed to South Seberang Prai police headquarters investigation officer.
He said the case will be investigated under Section 135(1)(D) of Custom Act 1967.
