A smuggling syndicate’s attempt to conceal 1.7 million contraband cigarettes worth more than RM1.6 million including duties and taxes under sacks of coconut husks was uncovered after Customs officers found an abandoned lorry in Kampung Pauh Sembilan, Tawang near Bachok recently.
The cigarettes were seized during Ops Asap Cino after the Kelantan Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) discovered an unlocked Hino lorry at the location at around 10.30pm on July 17.
Kelantan Customs director Mohd Hisham Mohd Nor said an inspection found the lorry loaded with sacks containing coconut husks, which were allegedly being used as a cover to conceal boxes of contraband cigarettes of various brands.
“Upon inspecting underneath the sacks of coconut husks, officers discovered the cigarettes, worth RM490,200 before taxes, packed in 74 boxes.
“The estimated duties and taxes amounted to RM1.19 million, while the lorry was valued at RM150,000, bringing the total seizure to RM1.83 million,” he said at a press conference at the Rantau Panjang Customs Office today.
Mohd Hisham said officers subsequently conducted a second raid at the same location and discovered a Toyota Unser multi-purpose vehicle containing another 253,600 contraband cigarettes worth RM243,747 including duties and taxes.
He said the cigarettes seized in both operations were believed to have been smuggled through river routes before being transferred to vehicles for distribution outside Kelantan.
The contraband cigarettes are suspected to have been intended for sale and distribution to foreign nationals across the country.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
