KOTA KINABALU: Contraband cigarettes worth almost RM1mil were seized in a raid on a water village in Sandakan on Sunday (April 6).
Marine cops who conducted the raid at the Mile 3 water village, had gone to a house believed used as a storage point for these items, and found boxes of various brands of cigarettes valued at RM943,902.
Sandakan marine police commander Asst Comm Nazri Ibrahim said they received tip-offs about the matter and had planned the operation dubbed Op Taring Landai Khas.
“In the 9.30pm crackdown, we discovered 20 boxes and 10 plastic bags of these cigarettes with duties not paid.
“The house is believed to be used as a storage unit before the items are distributed and sold in the local market,” he said.
All items have been confiscated and brought back to the marine base for further investigation under the Customs Act.
No suspects have been nabbed thus far and efforts are being made to trace the culprits.
ACP Nazri said marine police are committed to fighting crime and urged the public to continue working with authorities in this mission.
