BAU: The General Operations Force (GOF) thwarted an attempt to smuggle cigarettes and alcohol worth RM238,200 in an operation codenamed ‘Op Libas’ on Monday (July 13).
GOF 11th Battalion commanding officer Supt Rosdi Inai said the operation took place around 1.20pm, carried out by 11 GOF 11th Battalion personnel and three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) personnel.
The team raided a premises based on intelligence and information obtained.
They found and seized 813 cartons of cigarettes and 412 boxes of liquor, amounting to RM238,200.
“A 39-year-old man, believed to be the owner of the premises, failed to show any valid documents relating to the ownership of the goods.
“We arrested the man for attempting to bribe personnel RM3,000 in return for not taking action,” Supt Rosdi said in a statement.
He added that the contraband items were believed to have been smuggled in from a neighbouring country by road, to be marketed here and around Kuching.
The case is handed over to the Bau district police headquarters for investigation under Section 135 (1) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a minimum fine of 10 times the value of goods and a maximum of 20 times the value of goods, or imprisonment for three years if convicted.
As for the case of attempted bribery, the arrest is handed over to MACC for further investigation in accordance with the MACC Act, which carries a minimum fine of five times the value of the bribe or 20 years imprisonment if convicted.
