SANDAKAN: Sabah Marine Police, in a Special Integrated Operation with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), have busted a cigarette smuggling activity at Sungai Seguntor here, with seizures estimated at RM4.89 million.
Acting on information and intelligence, Sabah Marine Police and MACC raided an unregistered jetty along Sungai Seguntor at about 1.30 am on Sept 15.
The operation led to the arrest of a 45-year-old man and the seizure of 1,820,000 sticks of untaxed cigarettes of various brands, believed to have been smuggled in from a neighbouring country. Also seized were a three-ton lorry, a speedboat and three 200HP outboard engines. The first seizure was estimated at RM2,564,000.
Following up on information from the arrest and first seizure, the raiding team spotted another speedboat hidden among mangrove trees in Sungai Seguntor. Inspection found another boat fitted with three 200HP outboard engines and carrying 1,730,000 sticks of untaxed cigarettes of various brands.
The boat and all seized items were taken to the Sandakan Marine Police Jetty for further action. The second seizure was estimated at RM2,326,000.
In total, the operation seized 3,550,000 sticks of untaxed cigarettes worth RM4,890,000.
In a separate operation on Sept 14, Sabah Marine Police also raided an unnumbered warehouse in Kampung Dambai, Jalan Tuaran Bypass, Kota Kinabalu. The inspection found 43,200 cans of liquor suspected to be untaxed, with an estimated seizure value of RM478,506.
The success of the three raids brought the total contraband seized by Sabah Marine Police on Sept 14 and 15, 2026, to RM5,368,506. The cases are being investigated under Sections 135(1)(d) and 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967.
For the record, from January to Sept 15 this year, Sabah Marine Police recorded 61 cases under the Customs Act 1967, involving total seizures of RM8,386,812.61 and 40 arrests.
Sabah Marine Police Commander ACP Ahmad Amri Abd Rahman said the success reflected the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and strategic cooperation with MACC in strengthening enforcement and combating the smuggling and distribution of untaxed goods.
“Sabah Marine Police will continue to intensify enforcement operations, strengthen information sharing and enhance inter-agency cooperation to ensure smuggling activities are continuously eradicated for the safety and interests of the country,” he said. – James Leong
The confiscated contraband cigarettes kept at the Sandakan Marine Police Base on Sept 15.
