By Wendy John
SIBU, Jan 10: The Customs Department has confiscated RM1.7 million worth of contraband cigarettes and liquor including illegal firecrackers at Sibu-Stapang road here on Tuesday.
During the raid conducted between 9.50pm and 10:30pm, Customs enforcement officers detained two trucks and seized the contraband items without taxation in separate locations
Sarawak Customs director Datuk Sharifah Halimah Tuanku Taha said five individuals were also detained to assist in the investigations.
“The confiscation involved two cargo trucks with 1,486,360 sticks of cigarettes of various brands, 20,589.60 litres of liquor and 71.4kg of various types of firecrackers with estimated value of RM368,514.37, with the tax amount at RM1,340,719.83,” she said in a statement today.
According to Sharifah Halimah, the operations involved three Sibu Customs enforcement team members who carried out a roadblock following intelligence information received earlier.
“As a result of the investigation, the team was able to find a number of cigarettes, hard liquor and firecrackers of various brands, which were placed in the cargo area of the vehicles,” she explained.
She added that the smuggling tactics were carried out by transporting the items using a freight truck that also carries consumable goods for distribution in the local market.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (e) of the Customs Act 1967. — DayakDaily
