BELURAN: A total of 184 personnel were deployed in the ESSCOM-coordinated integrated operation in the district here on Sept 28 and 29, involving security forces and federal, state and local authorities.
The agencies involved were the Beluran District Police Headquarters and district Special Branch, the 20th Battalion of the General Operations Force Beluran, the 5th Division Headquarters of the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Immigration Department of Malaysia, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Road Transport Department (RTD), the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, the National Registration Department (NRD), the Companies Commission of Malaysia, the Human Resources Department, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the Beluran District Council and the Telupid District Council.
It focused on inspections of business premises, vehicles and selected locations suspected of being used to store contraband cigarettes and liquor, as well as detecting offences under the jurisdiction of each participating agency. A total of 70 business premises and 170 vehicles were inspected, including three locations identified as storage sites for untaxed cigarettes and liquor.
Overall, the integrated operation recorded enforcement actions and seizures valued at RM407,644.69. Enforcement actions accounted for RM293,450.16, covering compounds, summonses, arrears or payments and related measures under the acts, laws and regulations enforced by the respective agencies. Seized untaxed cigarettes and liquor accounted for an estimated RM114,194.53, including duties.
The Sabah Human Resources Department issued six compounds worth RM159,000, four compliance notices and ordered payment of arrears amounting to RM48,100.16 for offences under Sections 18, 58, 103 and 104 of the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Cap 67), bringing its total enforcement action to RM207,100.16. The SSM issued six compounds worth RM30,000 under Section 30(1) and/or 30(2) of the Companies Act 2016 (Act 777) and seven compliance notices under Section 27B of the Companies Commission of Malaysia Act 2001 (Act 614).
The EPF inspected 14 employers and issued five inspection notices under Section 38(2) of the Employees Provident Fund Act 1991 (Act 452); five cases were also identified for further investigation under Sections 41(1) and 43(2) of the same Act. The RTD inspected 170 vehicles and issued 37 summonses worth RM6,250, while the Beluran District Council issued a RM100 compound to two business premises for failing to manage rubbish properly under Section 4(a) of the Uniform Anti-Litter By-Laws 2010. The Immigration Department inspected 56 individuals but found no immigration offences, while the NRD inspected 15 individuals and found all documents to be genuine and valid.
Seizures of contraband cigarettes and liquor were carried out under Sections 35(1)(d) and 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967. All seized items were taken to the Sandakan Customs Office for further action. The operation aimed to safeguard security and public order in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), combat smuggling and misappropriation of controlled, subsidised and untaxed goods, curb the presence of undocumented migrants (PATI) and take action against other offences detected by the relevant agencies.
ESSCOM said the operation also reflected a strategy that goes beyond enforcement to include prevention and compliance verification, while strengthening the presence and dominance of security and enforcement agencies in identified areas and improving information sharing and inter-agency coordination.
ESSCOM commander DCP Datuk Victor Sanjos said such integrated operations will continue to be enhanced across ESSZone districts in line with its “No Day Without Operations” aspiration. The public is urged to report suspicious activities or security incidents to the ESSCOM Operations Centre at 089-863181 or via WhatsApp at 011-63311072. – James Leong
Contraband cigarettes confiscated during the ESSCOM-coordinated integrated operation in Beluran.
