SIBU: A total of RM92,201 worth of contraband cigarettes and beer were seized by the 10th Battalion General Operation Force (GOF) and the Customs Department during raids held during an operation named Ops Libas in Mukah.
Battalion Commander Supt. Sanudin Mohamad Isa while speaking at a press conference yesterday said they were expecting more smuggling activities during the festive seasons of Gawai Dayak and Hari Raya celebrations due to strong demand for cheap cigarettes and beer.
“During celebrations which include Gawai and Raya, there will be an increase in smuggling activity. Though this is the fasting month, it will not deter us from carrying out operations,” he said adding that beer is largely consumed by Gawai celebrants.
On the latest Ops Libas, he said two raids were carried out simultaneously in a commercial shophouse in Boulevard Setia, Mukah on May 9 which involved 10 GOF enforcement personnel and three from the Customs Department, Sibu.
“At about 10.30am, the team conducted a raid on a store of on the first floor of the building as it was suspected of housing smuggled items. They arrested an Indonesian man who led them to the seizure of 655 cartons of contraband cigarettes of various brands from a store,” he added.
The items from China and Indonesia were worth a total of RM76,641 whose import duties had not been paid.
The team also found out that the suspect had an expired travelling document.
In the second raid 15 minutes later in the same building, the team confiscated a total of 128 boxes of Heineken, Laoshan and Tiger beer worth RM15,460 from an unmanned store.
Both offences were punishable under Section 135 (1) of the Custom Act 1967 that carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or 10 times the value of the seizure and jail sentence of between six months and three years or both upon conviction.
Sanudin also called on the public to provide them with information on smuggling activities in the region for further action.
