KUCHING: The Sarawak General Operations Force (GOF) scored multiple successes under Ops Kontraban in a number of raids on premises storing illegal items and contrabands.
GOF Sarawak Brigade Deputy Commander ACP Shaikh Abdul Adzis Shaikh Abdullah said the raids were conducted from April 6 to 12.
“On April 6, at 11.30am, an intelligence team from the 10th Battalion in Sibu raided a premise in Bandaraya Sibu which allegedly stored fireworks and firecrackers.
“The team picked up a suspect, age 26, and found 280 boxes of fireworks and 77 boxes of firecrackers of various types, which were estimated to worth RM150,500,” he said.
The Sibu Crime Investigation Division took over the case under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957.
On April 7, an intelligence team from the 11th Battalion in Kuching raided a premise and arrested a 20-year old suspect in Kota Samarahan at 10.30am.
Police found the premises storing 87 cartons of white cigarettes, 24 cartons of cigarette buds and 57 boxes of beers.
“The items were estimated to worth RM26,3100, including taxes. This also includes the value of the cigarettes worth RM16,198.80 and the beers worth RM10,111.20,” said Abdul Azis.
A third raid was reported on April 8 at 7am, conducted by C Company, Intelligence Branch of the 12th GOF Battalion in Limbang, where a house was allegedly storing cigarettes with duties unpaid.
He said a 54-year old suspect was arrested and police found 2,496 cartons with 499,200 white cigarettes and 890 cartons with 142,400 cigarette buds.
“The team confiscated the items with an estimated value of RM506,912, including taxes.”
In Sibu, on April 12 at around 4.50am, a team from the GOF headquarters stopped a lorry at a car park, which was suspected to be carrying cigarettes with duties unpaid.
Police arrested a 28-year old suspect and a 37-year-old Indonesian. The team found the lorry was carrying 8,400 cartons of white cigarettes and 17,600 cartons of cigarette buds.
He said the items were estimated to worth RM1,549,560, inclusive of taxes. The lorry worth RM80,000 was also seized.
On April 12 at around 12.45pm, a team from the 11th Battalion, Kuching raided a house in Kuching City which was suspected to be storing untaxed cigarettes.
“One 28-year old suspect was arrested and the house was found to be storing 1,872 cartons of white cigarettes, estimated to worth RM280,800, including taxes,” said Abdul Azis.
All the cases are investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
Throughout Ops Kontraban from January 1 to April 12, Abdul Azis said the GOF Sarawak Brigade RM17.8 million worth of contrabands were seized involving 39 cases.
He said that 46 suspects were picked up while 23 vehicles were confiscated during the operation.
