KUCHING: Customs enforcement officers seized a cache of smuggled cigarettes worth RM1.23 million from a lorry left unattended in Demak Laut last Tuesday (May 28).
Sarawak Customs Department director Norizan Yahya said that the seizure was made by the Customs Land Operations Unit around 2.30pm.
In the operation, the team spotted the Ford lorry in an open area and found numerous boxes containing a total of 1,200,000 cigarettes suspected to be of unpaid duties stored in the back of the lorry.
“No arrests were made despite the team waiting almost an hour for the driver or owner of the goods to claim ownership.
“The goods and lorry are valued around RM405,000 and the unpaid duties and taxes is estimated to be worth RM828,000,” he said.
Norizan pointed out that the syndicate’s modus operandi is to transport contraband via roads in remote areas to avoid the detection by authorities on main roads.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1) (e) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a fine of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment for a term of up to five years or both, upon conviction.
