Customs officers in Sabah have confiscated over RM5 million worth of contraband cigarettes in a raid on a house in Luyang. The operation, conducted on September 13 by the enforcement operations unit and the Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault (Cobra) team, discovered over 5.9 million sticks of various illicit cigarette brands. Following a tip-off from the public, a 29-year-old local man was arrested during the raid. The seized cigarettes were valued at approximately RM1.18 million, with an estimated unpaid duty amounting to RM4.034 million.
The customs assistant-director general, Mohd Nasir Deraman, stated that the suspect is subject to investigation under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for smuggling untaxed goods. If convicted, the suspect will face a fine of no less than 10 times the value of the seized items or RM100,000, whichever is higher. The penalty also includes a jail term of no less than six months and no more than five years.
Mohd Nasir urged the public to cooperate with the Customs Department in its efforts to combat smuggling, particularly with regards to items such as cigarettes, alcohol, firecrackers, and drugs that pose a threat to national security and the well-being of the people. To assist in this effort, he provided the Customs toll-free number (1-800-88-8855) for reporting any smuggling activities or visiting the nearest Customs office.
He assured the public that the identities of informants would be kept confidential.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
