KOTA KINABALU: An attempt to smuggle in 3,500 cartons of contraband cigarettes worth about RM420,000 in Sabah's east coast Tawau district was foiled by the Armed Forces' Joint Task Force 2 (ATB 2) quick response team.
On seeing the ATB 2 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) personnel moving in, two suspects fled the scene at Lorong Haji Salleh close to Kg Sri Aman in Tawau district on Sunday (Aug 7).
ATB 2 commander Brigadier General Abdul Karim Ahmad said the QRF team was carrying out operations under Ops Benteng Bersama when they spotted the duo unloading the boxes at a store.
The store is believed to be a hiding place for contraband cigarettes smuggled in from Indonesia and supplied to the local market, he added.
The team handed over the cigarettes to police after it lodged a report.
Brig Gen Abdul Karim thanked the police for their cooperation and support of the operation.
"The close cooperation between the Armed Forces and police remains at a high level through continuous monitoring and effective information sharing to ensure the security in the east coast of Sabah is not breached," he added.
