BINTULU: The Marine Police (PPM) seized uncustomed cigarettes worth RM437,710.40 kept in a van near Bintulu Night Market, Jalan Pedada here in an operations on Monday (Nov 16).
PPM Region 5 Bintulu commanding officer ASP Ezuandi Bahadin said the operation, dubbed Ops Landai Covid-19, was carried out around 11.30am.
Inspections conducted by the marine intelligence unit (on the vehicle) found several cigarette cartons placed under the front passenger seat of the van.
“After waiting for about two hours for the van owner to appear, the team proceeded to pick the front passenger’s door lock and found 587,440 cigarette sticks of various brands.
“Further inspection found that the illicit cigarettes were believed to be uncustomed and were suspected to be smuggled out or temporarily kept,” he said.
Ezuandi added that the van and seized items were taken to Bintulu police station for further action.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
