KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled two major syndicates involved in the illegal vape and smuggled cigarette trade in Selangor and seized contraband worth RM12.7mil.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said its Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation Intelligence, in collaboration with several enforcement agencies, carried out the operations codenamed Ops Taring Alpha 3 and Ops Taring Alpha 1.
He said Ops Taring Alpha 3 conducted on July 28, targeted a building in Batu Caves used as a storage and distribution centre for vape products.
"Five suspects were inspected and a total of 131,036 boxes of vape products, 4,900 bottles of vape liquid and 25,510 electronic cigarette devices of various brands were seized, with a total estimated value of RM9.4mil," he said during a press conference at the Central Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) headquarters in Cheras on Thursday (Aug 6).
He said investigations indicated that the products were in contravention of the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Electronic Cigarette Devices) Order 2022, Trade Descriptions Act 2011 and Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
He said all suspects and seized items were handed over to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Gombak health office for further investigation and enforcement.
On Ops Taring Alpha 1, Comm Mohd Yusri said police arrested three people in a raid on a building in Puchong on July 27 used to store, sell and distribute cigarettes with unpaid duties.
"We seized 166 cartons containing 1.66 million sticks of smuggled cigarettes, with the haul estimated at RM3.3mil.
"The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967," he added.
Comm Mohd Yusri said they had stepped up intelligence-led operations against contraband smuggling and trans-national crime.
From Jan 1 to July 31, 2026, 236 cases were recorded, 411 individuals arrested and contraband worth RM280.4mil seized.
During the same period, Ops Taring Alpha 3 recorded 11 cases with five arrests and seizures valued at RM9.5mil, while Ops Taring Alpha 1 recorded five cases with 10 arrests and seizures worth RM6.1mil.
"The success proves that intelligence-led enforcement and strategic cooperation with agencies such as the Customs Department, Home Ministry, Health Ministry and other enforcement bodies have strengthened efforts to dismantle organised crime syndicates involved in smuggling and other cross-border crimes," he said.
Comm Mohd Yusri stressed that police would not stop at arrests and seizures alone.
"Our main focus is to identify, track and cripple the entire syndicate network," he said.
