KOTA KINABALU: The police seized RM17,000 worth of contraband cigarettes and detained a 20-year-old suspect in a raid in Lahad Datu on Sunday (Oct 2) afternoon.
The operation took place behind the Jalan Pantai fish market at around 12.15pm, where the man was found in a speedboat carrying 10 plastic packets of cigarettes of various brands totalling 38,600 sticks, believed to be smuggled.
“The suspect was detained and the goods including the boat and outboard engine were confiscated; the case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967,” said the police in a statement on Monday (Oct 3).
Meanwhile in two other operations held on Sunday and Sept 30, 14 illegal immigrants were detained across several locations around the district for not possessing valid documents, where they are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Also apprehended was a Filipino man, 56, suspected of selling untaxed cigarettes where 1,380 sticks of cigarettes were seized estimated to be worth RM500, the police added.
