The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has successfully thwarted a smuggling operation during daylight hours. They seized 24,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes, which were estimated to have an unpaid duty of RM3.2 million. This marks the largest seizure of its kind in the state of Pahang so far. These cigarettes were confiscated from an eight-tonne lorry on the Kuantan-Segamat Highway near Pekan at 2.20pm on September 13, as reported by Pahang Customs director Mohd Asri Seman.
The enforcement officers discovered the cigarettes during an inspection of the lorry, which was traveling south from the East Coast. The haul of 4.8 million cigarettes was estimated to be worth RM384,000, with a total duty estimated at RM3.206 million. Consequently, the lorry driver, in his 40s, and the vehicle were detained for further investigation under the Customs Act 1967, Mohd Asri added during the press conference held at Wisma Kastam Sultan Ahmad Shah on September 29.
Mohd Asri believes that a cigarette-smuggling syndicate has been audaciously utilizing the East Coast Expressway and the Kuantan-Segamat Highway as distribution channels for the contraband in the southern region. He further pointed out that the syndicate’s modus operandi involves operating during peak hours to avoid detection, rather than conducting their activities at night. These findings were conveyed by Mohd Asri to Bernama news agency.
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Credit: The Star : News Feed
