KOTA KINABALU: What appeared to be a vacant house in Sabah's east coast Beluran district turned out to actually be a smugglers' hiding-place for contraband containing over RM200,000 of contraband cigarettes and alcohol.
Marine police personnel were conducting an anti-contraband operation dubbed Ops Taring Landai Khas Kontraban when they were tipped off about the house at Kampung Sapi Nangoh, some 205km from here, on Sunday (Jan 14).
Region Four Marine Police commander Asst Comm Ahmad Ariffin said they found the items hidden in a storeroom of the house during the 3am operation.
“We found 272,208 cigarettes and 73 boxes of alcoholic drinks in the room,” he said when contacted on Monday (Jan 15).
“The items are estimated to be worth some RM220,000,” he added.
ACP Ahmad said the seized items were brought to the Sandakan marine police operations base for further investigation under the Customs Act 1967.
He said marine police will step up efforts to curb smuggling activities in the state.
