KUCHING: The General Operations Force (GOF) seized contraband cigarettes worth RM1,149,492 in an operation dubbed Ops Libas on Monday (Aug 3).
GOF Brigade commander SAC Mancha Ata said that the raid took place at 8.30am at a premises, suspected of storing uncustomed cigarettes, at Jalan Semaba here.
The raiding team seized a total of 7,890 cigarette cartons containing 1,488,400 cigarettes butts.
“The cigarettes were confiscated on suspicion of not being customed with an estimated value of confiscation worth RM1,149,492 including tax.
“The team also seized a branded bag; cash, suspected to be from cigarette sales, amounting to RM8,104; an automated teller machine (ATM) card; an identification card; and a driving licence,” he said, adding that no arrests were made.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 and the seized items were handed over to Padawan district police headquarters (IPD) for further action.
Mancha further noted that GOF also thwarted an attempt to smuggle out 660kg of granulated sugar on Saturday (Aug 1) at 3.30pm.
The operation codenamed Ops Benteng Covid took place at a jalan tikus (rat trail) near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border at Tapak Megah-Long Nawang, Kapit.
“The team was on patrol duty when they found the sugar abandoned in the said location.
“The controlled goods, valued at RM2,046, were confiscated and handed over to Kapit Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry for further action,” he said.
Mancha said that GOF will continue to combat smuggling activities and welcomes the cooperation of the public to channel information to its officials at 082-587222 on criminal or smuggling activities, especially at national borders throughout the state.
