BUKIT MERTAJAM – Penang police busted a contraband syndicate after seizing 4.06 million sticks of cigarettes and 691,200 kretek valued at RM7.8 million on Saturday.
State police chief Datuk Sahabuddin Abd Manan said in Ops Kontraban, the police raided three rental houses in Machang Bubok and Bukit Tengah that were used as the place of operation and storage for the contraband cigarettes.
He added that as a result of the raid, the police arrested 12 men aged 18 to 38, five of whom have previous criminal records related to drugs, gambling, and customs violations.
“As a result of the initial investigation, this syndicate is believed to have sourced contraband cigarettes from neighbouring countries, but we do not know what their modus operandi is.
“They are also believed to have been operating for the past four months to fulfil market demand in the northern region,” he said at a press conference at the Seberang Prai Tengah district police station today.
He added that nine vehicles estimated to be worth RM236,000 were seized, bringing the total seizure to RM8.04 million.
He said all suspects are currently remanded at the Seberang Prai Tengah district police station under Section 116 of the Customs Act 1967, and the case is also being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
This is the second contraband cigarette seizure in Penang in less than a week.
Last Thursday, the Home Ministry’s Special Operations Force raided two godowns and a store in Tasek Gelugor, Kepala Batas, leading to the seizure of contraband cigarettes valued at RM13.8 million. – The Vibes, June 28, 2021
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