KOTA KINABALU: Marine policemen found contraband cigarettes worth over RM150,000 that were hidden within a mangrove swamp in Sabah’s east coast Lahad Datu district.
Acting on a tip-off, they discovered the items during a raid on a hut made out of zinc that was located in the swamp near Kampung Puyut on Tuesday (Dec 10).
Region Four Marine Police Commander Asst Comm Mohd Nazri Ibrahim said they raided the hut at about 5am.
He said they believed smugglers had stashed the cigarettes in the hut to evade authorities before distributing them in the local market.
“Following an inspection, our men found various brands of illicit cigarettes worth RM153,360,” he said, when contacted on Thursday (Dec 12).
“The team then seized the items but no arrest was made.
“Investigations are ongoing to track down the owner of the cigarettes,” added ACP Mohd Nazri.
He said the cigarettes have been handed over to the Customs Department for further action.
In a separate case, a man was caught hiding contraband cigarettes in a large fish container in the neighbouring Kunak district on Wednesday (Dec 11).
This ruse was detected by General Operations Force (GOF) personnel who stopped the suspect driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Kunak GOF 22nd Battalion Commanding Officer Supt Norman Chendan Philip Picha Rumpang said they found seven boxes containing untaxed cigarettes in the container placed at the back of the vehicle.
He said the suspect and the seized items were subsequently handed over to the Kunak police for further investigations.
