SIBU, July 12: The 10th Battalion General Operation Force (GOF) seized 1,361 cartons of illicit liquor worth RM259,000 from a store in Jalan Fookui, Off Jalan Oya Lama during a raid on Saturday (July 11).
Its commander Supt Mohammad Hafiz Kadir said a woman storekeeper was also arrested during the raid at 9.15 am on the store.
“As a result of the raid, the enforcement team found and confiscated 1,361 cartons of contraband beer worth RM259,000 without tax. A woman who is believed to be the storekeeper has also been detained,” he said
He said the modus operandi of the smugglers was to use storerooms to keep smuggled items such as beer, cigarette and firework for distribution in the town later.
“Daily necessity items were also kept in the store to avoid smuggled items being detected by the authority,” Â he added.
The commander said the seized items and the woman were being investigated under Section 135 (1) (d)of the Custom Act 1967.
The offence provides a maximum three years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 times the value of the seized item, or both.
The case has been referred to the Sibu police for further action, he added.-DayakDaily
