KUCHING: Sarawak Customs struck gold once again in their mission against smugglers, this time confiscating a container full of contraband cigarettes.
In a statement, state Customs director Datuk Sharifah Halimah Tuanku Taha said officers had been monitoring a 20-foot container that was placed on the roadside in front of a private jetty in Bintawa near here last Saturday.
They finally swooped on the container following a two-hour stakeout and discovered the cigarettes — later numbering 3.56 mln sticks — inside.
“The cigarettes, comprising various brands, were seized. They have an estimated value of RM967,500 with an unpaid duty of RM2,446,530,” said Sharifah Halimah.
“The container was then taken to the Demak Laut Enforcement Division store for safe keeping and further investigation.”
She added that the container was believed to have been brought in from a neighbouring country by sea.
It was also believed that the container had been transported from northern Sarawak to Kuching via a wharf or private jetty.
Sharifah Halimah further said a syndicate was believed to be using the wharf or private jetty as entry point as entry to ports was tightly controlled while transportation via land was also strictly monitored by various law enforcement agencies.
“Upon arrival, the container is believed to have been immediately removed from the pier and placed by the road in a bid to fool the authorities while also trying to avoid the wharf or pier’s owner.
“The container was placed outside the premises to facilitate transporting process by the syndicate without being detected by the authorities,” she added.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967.
