SANDAKAN: A local man has been arrested after police uncovered a massive haul of contraband cigarettes worth RM2mil in Sandakan.
The raid was carried out around 12.50pm on Saturday (March 22) at a warehouse along Jalan Airport Batu 7 by personnel from the Bukit Aman General Operations Force (GOF) headquarters and Battalion 15 Sandakan.
During the operation, the police detained a 40-year-old suspect and seized a large quantity of untaxed cigarettes, along with a four-wheel-drive vehicle believed to be linked to the smuggling activity.
Sandakan police chief Asst Comm Ahsmon Bajah in a statement on Sunday (March 23) said the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a penalty of up to RM500,000 in fines, a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, or both if convicted.
Meanwhile, Sandakan police also teamed up with the Environment Department in a joint crackdown on illegal street racing and noisy motorcycles across several targeted locations in the district.
A total of 20 summonses were issued by police for various traffic offences.
Noise level tests were conducted on 17 motorcycles, resulting in 14 directive notices being issued under Section 48 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Motor Vehicle Noise) Regulations 1987. Nine compound recommendations were also made under Regulation 4(2) of the same Act.
The operation involved two senior officers and 10 personnel from the district’s Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Division, alongside three officers and 10 enforcement personnel from the ministry.
