KUCHING: The General Operations Force (GOF) Battalion 11 thwarted attempts to smuggle cigarettes and liquor worth RM136,000 and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders worth RM203,360 in two operations near here on Thursday.
This was revealed by GOF Battalion 11 commanding officer Supt Rosdi Inai at a press conference yesterday.
A total of 250 cartons or 2,500 boxes of contraband cigarettes and 510 boxes of liquor were confiscated in Ops Libas from premises in Jalan Lubang Angin Lama, Bau.
Two local men, aged 26 and 65, believed to be the owners of the premises and goods were detained.
“From the information obtained, these items are believed to be smuggled in from the neighbouring country by land and will be marketed around Kuching,” he said.
“The case is investigated under Section 135 of the Customs Act 1967 where an offender can be fined 10 times the amount of the goods at minimum and 20 times the amount at maximum or a jail term of three years upon conviction.”
The operation was conducted jointly with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at 2.30pm upon receiving information.
Meanwhile, Ops Batas, which was conducted on the same day at 7.30pm, 232 LPG cylinders (14KG) were seized at the parking space of a warehouse in Tebedu.
The items were found hidden inside a truck at the parking lot. The driver failed to provide a valid wholesale licence from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP).
According to Supt Rosdi, the team arrested two local men aged 28 and 48.
He added that the goods were to be smuggled into neighbouring Kalimantan via land transport and marketed there.
The case will be referred to the KPDNHEP for further investigation under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
Supt Rosdi urged the public to provide any information regarding smuggling activities and work together with the police.
