MIRI: The Sarawak Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has seized a lorry loaded with 740,000 contraband cigarettes of various brands.
The haul has an estimated value of RM648,730.00, including duties and taxes.
Sarawak Customs director Norizan Yahaya detailed the operation, stating that the lorry was intercepted on June 6 at 11.24am by a team from Miri’s Customs Land Operations Unit at the Assar Commercial Centre, Jalan Lopeng, here.
“The lorry was found with its engine running, but no driver or representative was present,” Norizan said in a statement.
Upon inspection, the team discovered the illicit cargo, valued at RM150,300,with the duties and taxes alone amounting to RM498,430.00.
Despite waiting for nearly an hour, no individual came forward to claim the truck or the goods.
Preliminary investigations suggest the smuggling syndicate employed routes through remote areas, avoiding main roads to evade detection before distributing the contraband to local markets.
The case is currently under investigation under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967.
Offenders, upon conviction, face fines up to RM500,000.00, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
Norizan has also urged the public to assist the Customs Department in combating smuggling, emphasising the importance of community cooperation in reporting suspicious activities related to the smuggling of cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, drugs, vehicles and other contraband.
