KUALA LUMPUR: More than RM620mil worth of contraband cigarettes were confiscated between 2022 and September of this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The Home Ministry said its enforcement agencies recorded 1,334 cases with a total of 1,184 arrests.
“The total value of the confiscated items was RM623.41mil,” it said in a written reply on Wednesday (Oct 8).
Of the number, 912 cases were recorded by the General Operations Force, resulting in 977 arrests with items valued at RM445,103,826.
The Marine Police Force recorded 380 cases, resulting in 207 arrests and items valued at RM157,486,78.
Some 42 cases were recorded by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, with confiscations valued at RM20,819,063.80.
The ministry was responding to Zahari Kechik, who asked about contraband cigarette seizures between 2022 and September this year.
He also asked about the total value of confiscated items and the impact on government tax collection.
