KUALA LUMPUR: Police seized e-cigarettes and vape devices worth RM8.876 million during the integrated ‘Ops E-Cig Mega’, carried out simultaneously nationwide on Feb 10.
Department of Internal Security and Public Order (JKDNKA) acting director, Datuk Fisol Salleh, said the operation targeted 154 locations and involved 2,140 officers and personnel from the police and other enforcement agencies.
He said inspections were conducted at 141 e-cigarette premises, resulting in 199 cases, and more than 959 litres of vape liquid and 83,289 devices were seized.
“Other items seized included device accessories, batteries, sales equipment, and contraband cigarettes valued at RM67,596,” he told a press conference at Bukit Aman today.
Fisol added that 181 individuals were screened and four arrests were made, involving three men and one woman.
“A man was detained under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in Tangkak, Johor, while a woman, wanted by police in connection with an offence under Section 182 of the Penal Code, was held in Ipoh.
“An Indonesian man was detained under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying, and a Bangladeshi man was arrested under Section 6(1)(c) of the same Act for lacking valid documents,” he said.
Fisol added that the operations was also aimed at preventing revenue leakage to the black market and tackling the distribution of unregistered e-cigarettes, particularly among youths and students.
The operations, led by the General Operations Force (GOF), also involved the Federal Reserve Unit, marine police, and the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation Intelligence.
Personnel from the Ministry of Health, Inland Revenue Board, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, and local authorities also took part in the operations. – BERNAMA
