SANDAKAN: The State Marine Police thwarted a cigarette smuggling attempt during a raid at the Kampung Kombo jetty along Jalan Leila here, in the early hours of Sept 2.
Acting on intelligence reports, a marine police team arrived at the scene at approximately 4.15 am and spotted several individuals offloading goods from a boat onto the jetty. However, upon noticing the authorities’ presence, the boat sped away from the location, while the individuals on the jetty also fled into the surroundings.
A subsequent inspection of the jetty area led to the discovery of various brands of cigarettes, suspected to have been smuggled in from a neighbouring country. The total haul comprised 40,000 sticks of Oakley Original, 10,000 sticks of Oakley Original Menthol, 16,000 sticks of L3 Menthol, and 31,800 sticks of L3 Black Menthol—amounting to a grand total of 97,800 sticks of untaxed cigarettes, with an estimated value of RM131,700.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
Meanwhile, State Marine Police commander ACP Ahmad Amri Abd Rahman reported that a total of 57 cases under the Customs Act 1967 have been recorded so far this year, with the cumulative value of seizures reaching RM8,013,942.61. A total of 39 individuals were arrested in connection with these operations.
“We will continue to intensify its intelligence-gathering, patrols, and enforcement operations—particularly in areas identified as transit routes and offloading points for smuggled goods—to curb such illicit activities,” ACP Ahmad Amri said. – James Leong
The seized contraband cigarettes at the Sandakan Marine Police base on Sept 2.
