SIBU: The army has foiled an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes worth more than RM517,000 out of the country after intercepting a lorry in Serikin near the Sarawak–Indonesia border on Tuesday (January 20).
Eastern Field Army Commander Lieutenant General Datuk Mohd Sofi Md Lepi said the operation took place at about 11.35am when personnel on duty detected a three-tonne lorry travelling at a suspicious speed along an illegal route.
Initial field assessment revealed that the vehicle was moving from Kampung Sebobok towards the international border.
Acting on the information, troops swiftly moved to block the route and managed to stop the lorry several kilometres before it reached the border.
An inspection uncovered a large consignment of contraband cigarettes concealed beneath canvas coverings.
The total value of the seizure, including the vehicle, was estimated at RM517,200. A total of 12,180 cartons of cigarettes of various brands were confiscated, along with the lorry.
The driver, a 51-year-old local man, was arrested at the scene.
He, together with the seized items, was handed over to the Bau police headquarters for further investigation under the Customs Act 1967.
The army said security control in the Serikin and Bau sectors has been tightened recently to detect and disrupt both inbound and outbound cross-border smuggling activities.
The public has been urged to continue providing information on suspicious activities along illegal border routes in the interest of national security.
Mohd Sofi said the successful operation resulted from the integrity and vigilance of army personnel in Sabah and Sarawak, urging them to remain united and serve with dedication to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.
