SIBU: Customs officials arrested two men for allegedly transporting nearly 4.5 million sticks of contraband cigarette in a truck.
Sarawak Customs director Herman Shah Abdullah said the operations was carried out around 9.55am in front of Camp Oya on April 15.
Customs personnel stopped a suspicious looking truck for inspection and found a total of 4,499,200 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside.
“The value of the seizure is estimated at RM224,960 while the estimated tax and duties; RM2,991,968.
“The truck driver and passenger, aged 30 and 45, were arrested to assist in the investigation.”
The suspects had loaded plywood onto the truck to conceal the contraband cigarettes.
The cigarettes are believed to be from Miri, and most likely on their way to Kuching.
“This is the second case in a week that uses the same modus operandi,” added Herman.
The case will be investigated under Section 135 (1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967 for transporting duty-not-paid or prohibited goods.
If convicted, the suspects are looking at a fine of not less than 10 times the amount of customs duty or RM100,000, according to any greater amount, and not more than 20 times the value of the amount of customs duty or RM500,000, according to any greater amount, or imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than five years or both at once.
The public have been urged to assist Customs in the fight against smuggling activities while also advised against engaging in them.
