KUCHING: The General Operation Force (GOF) seized from a store in Miri untaxed cigarettes and beers worth a total of RM742,612.20 during a raid held in an operation codenamed Ops Kontraban.
GOF commander SAC Dr Che Ghazali Che Awang in a statement today said the raid was done by an intelligence team from the 12th GOF Battalion on June 14.
“At around 11.30am, the team proceeded with the raid and inspected the premises located in Taman Bumiko, which was suspected to store contraband items including cigarettes and beers which have not passed through Customs and were not taxed.
“The team was able to arrest a 37-year-old-man at the store that was found housing 4,800 cartons of white cigarettes and 137 cartons of beers all of which were confiscated. A vehicle found parked inside the premises together with the contrabands was also seized.
He added the total of RM767,612.20 included tax and cigarettes worth RM720,000; beers worth RM22,612.20 plus the vehicle worth RM25,000.
All confiscated items and the arrested man were handed over to the district police for investigation and further action under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
As of today, Sarawak GOF has confiscated illegal items worth RM20.09 million via a total of 49 cases involving 62 arrests (comprising 55 local men, three local women and four foreign men) with 32 seized vehicles of various types.
