GOF seizes fags, beers worth over RM700,000

MIRI: The General Operations Force (GOF) 12th Battalion has seized 2,379 cartons and boxes of suspected duty-not-paid beers and cigarettes during an operation codenamed ‘Ops Taring’.
 
The raid conducted by the battalion’s intelligence unit was made against a premises around 2.05pm along Jalan Miri-Bintulu last Friday (July 14).
 
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri, in a statement, said the team had seized 2,349 cartons of cigarettes and 30 boxes of beer, which were allegedly duty-not-paid.
 
“The illicit cigarettes are worth around RM704,700, while the beers are valued at around RM4,951.58, bringing the total seizure value to RM709,651.58.
 
“In addition, the team also arrested a local man in his 30s to facilitate investigations,” he said.
 
Both the suspect and the seized items were taken to Miri district police headquarters for further action.
 
Mohd Azman added that the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
 
Upon conviction, the suspect can be fined up to 20 times the value of the goods or up to RM500,000, whichever is greater, or sentenced to a jail term of up to five years, or both.