KUCHING: A total of 32 boxes containing 1,690 cartons of various types of cigarettes suspected to be with unpaid tax and Customs duties were seized by the police here yesterday.
District police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah said the total seizure was estimated to be worth RM252,432.
He said the seizure was made during a raid carried out by a team from the state’s General Operations Force (GOF) Intelligence Branch at about 9.10am in Jalan Setia Raja, here.
“During the operation, a local man, aged 47, was also arrested.
“The suspect will be brought before the Kuching Magistrate’s Court for remand application on Saturday (Aug 6),” he said in a statement on Friday evening.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
“Offences can be punishable by a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000 (whichever is higher) and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than five years or both ,” he explained.
He also said that the operation will continue to be carried out from time to time to combat smuggling activities.
