Man nabbed with over RM600,000 worth of fireworks and illicit cigarettes

JOHOR BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) have arrested a 39-year-old man and confiscated fireworks and illicit cigarettes worth more than RM600,000 at Kampung Ungku Mohsin, here.

GOF Battalion 5 commanding officer Supt Dimin Awang said that the suspect was apprehended while driving out of the area at about 6.50pm on Wednesday (Jan 26).

"The suspect was driving an MPV, and an inspection inside the car found 15 boxes of fireworks.

"Further inspection around the area found a hidden storage container that stored 2,620 cartons of untaxed cigarettes," he said in a statement here on Friday (Jan 28).

He added that the suspect was believed to have been active in supplying the cigarettes to the sundry stores around Johor Baru.

"The cigarettes' estimated worth is RM666,096 including tax, while the fireworks are about RM12,400," he said.

The case was being investigated under Section 135(1) of the Customs Act 1967 for possessing or selling smuggled cigarettes and Section 4 of the Explosives Act 1957 for possessing fireworks.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, Supt Dimin informed that a team from the GOF Battalion 5 had found 1,500 cartons of illicit cigarettes that had been abandoned at Jalan Benteng, Kampung Sungai Jambi Laut, Rengit.

"The discovery was made at 8pm on Wednesday (Jan 26) when the team found the contraband item hidden inside the bushes under a tree.

"The team had surveyed the area for about two hours and found no one suspicious," he said, adding that the cigarettes were worth RM264,900.

He added that the contraband items have been brought over to Batu Pahat District Police Headquarters for further action, and the case was also being investigated under Section 135(1) of the Customs Act 1967.