Cops seize smuggled cigarettes worth more than RM10mil in Sungai Buloh raid

SUNGAI BULOH: Contraband cigarettes worth approximately RM10.8mil were seized in a raid on a Bukit Rahman Putra warehouse here.

Acting Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk S. Sasikala Devi said four men were also detained in the raid at about 12.14pm on Wednesday (Jan 18) in a special operation codenamed Ops Contraband.

"We seized 143,950 cartons of smuggled cigarettes packed into 2,720 boxes along with two lorries and a car. The cigarettes are worth about RM10.8mil," she said at a press conference at Sungai Buloh district police headquarters on Thursday (Jan 19).

DCP Sasikala Devi said that those detained were aged between 23 and 30 and were transporters for the syndicate at the storage area, she said.

"We believe the syndicate has been operating for about a year. The transporters would receive instructions from other syndicate members via social media to make deliveries in the Klang Valley area," she said.

She added that those detained have been remanded until Jan 23 and said that it is believed that the remnants of the syndicate are still at large.

DCP Sasikala Devi then said that further investigations will be conducted to uncover the extent of the smuggling operation.

She added that the police will work with other enforcement agencies, including the Customs Department

"We will step up such operations as smuggling is still occuring. We urge the public to cooperate with the police in supplying information on any smuggling," said DCP Sasikala Devi.