TEBEDU: The army successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle 3,000 cartons of duty-not-paid cigarettes into Sarawak today (Feb 8).
The total seizure value of the seized contraband is estimated to be worth around RM95,000.
The incident happened around 12.15 am at the Tebedu Military Joint Post (Gabma) sector when patrol soldiers noticed a group of unknown individuals carrying boxes while crossing the border into Malaysia on foot.
A spokesman for the First Infantry Division said that the group managed to evade capture after being detected.
Inspections led to the discovery of 3,000 cartons of Era brand cigarettes, suspected to be uncustomed.
Following the discovery, the army handed the seized items to the Tebedu Customs Division, and a police report regarding the incident was lodged at the Tebedu police station.
The army reiterated its commitment to maintaining security and ensuring that the sovereignty of the state continues to be preserved, especially by preventing illegal entries or any cross-border criminal activities.
