SIBU: A man in Miri was arrested with more than 400,000 contraband clove cigarettes (kretek) on Saturday (Jan 25).
Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 commander Asst Comm Ab Rahman Mat Hasan said the suspect was arrested at 12.35pm during Ops Taring Landai.
"The raiding team detained a van on the side of the Jalan Miri Bypass.
"Upon inspecting the vehicle, the team found 432,000 sticks of kretek which did not have a Customs tax label," he said in a statement on Sunday (Jan 26).
The suspect also failed to submit any relevant documents from the Customs Department when asked by the team.
The cigarettes and van, worth about RM1.64mil in total, were confiscated, he added.
ACP Ab Rahman said the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both, upon conviction.
