SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Marine Police seized 87,200 sticks of various brands of cigarettes in an operation launched at Kampung Sinar Baru Batu 12 here on Sunday.
In the operation at around 11.04 am, the seized cigarettes are estimated to be worth RM174,700 based on the current market price.
According to Sabah Marine Police Commander ACP Nazri Ibrahim, based on public information, a marine police team tailed a vehicle suspected of carrying smuggled cigarettes.
He said the marine policemen then attempted to stop the car for inspection. However, the vehicle driver abandoned the car with all items inside and managed to escape.
“Checks revealed that the vehicle was carrying a large quantity of various brands of contraband cigarettes,” he said on Monday.
Nazri said all the confiscated items, including the cigarettes, were brought to the Sandakan Marine Police Operations Headquarters for further investigation under the Customs Act 1967.
Nazri attributed the success of the operation to public cooperation in providing information on the illegal activity.
“We are always committed to combating smuggling activities for the security and well-being of the country and welcomes information from the community to curb this crime,” he said.
In another development, the Sandakan Civil Defence Force (APM) responded to five cases involving uprooted trees caused by heavy rain and strong wind on Monday. No casualties were reported in the incidents.
One of the cases occurred at Mile 6 Jalan Labuk near the Sandakan Golf and Country Club where a large tree fell and blocked the main roads at 1.30 pm. APM personnel, led by Kapten (PA) Sulaiman Salama, cleared the tree using chainsaws by 3.14 pm.
APM also cleared fallen trees at four other locations: Jalan Sejati Walk Mile 7, Jalan Kampung Tinusa 1 Mile 7, Jalan IJM Mile 6 and Kampung Gas, Jalan Batu Sapi, Sulaiman said.
There were no reports of damage to properties in all cases except for the Kampung Gas incident where a wooden house was damaged. – James Leong
