PASIR MAS: The Kelantan Customs Department has seized 1.95 million sticks of cigarettes worth RM1.37mil through Ops Asap Cino.
Its director, Mohd Hisham Mohd Nor, said the seizure was made in two raids in Kampung Pauh 9, Tawang, Bachok on Monday (Aug 17).
He said in the first raid at 10.30pm, an abandoned Hino lorry was found with 1.7 million sticks of cigarettes of various brands in 74 boxes.
"The cigarettes were concealed in a white sack filled with coconut husks. They were valued at RM1.194mil, including duties and taxes, while the lorry was valued at RM150,000," he said at a press conference at the Rantau Panjang Enforcement Office here on Wednesday (Aug 19).
Mohd Hisham said that further inspection found a Toyota Unser containing 253,600 sticks of cigarettes worth RM178,027.20, including duties and taxes.
According to him, the vehicle worth RM15,000 was also seized.
He said the syndicate is believed to be using river routes near the Malaysia-Thailand border to smuggle in cigarettes before transferring them to vehicles for markets outside Kelantan.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1) (e) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000 and not exceeding 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, or imprisonment for a term of six months to five years. – Bernama
