By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Sept 18: The General Operations Force (GOF) 12th Battalion on Tuesday (Sept 17) made their largest haul of contraband alcohol and cigarettes so far this year with a value of nearly RM3.83 million inclusive of tax.
A total of 6,204 boxes of beers and 13,530 cartons of cigarettes were seized in three related operations carried out following tip-offs and month-long stakeout by officers.
Sarawak GOF commander SAC Dato Khaw Kok Chin told reporters today that the seizure was made during Ops Libas Risk which was conducted jointly with the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC).
“Three different locations were raided and a 44 year-old local man was detained to assist our investigations on the case,” he said.
The operation led by Inspector Lokman Adli Ihsan started around 8.30am, with the first location a premises in Taman Goldsbury at Jalan Grand Park 5 Riam here.
The team discovered 3,513 boxes of contraband beer inside the premises and a local man was detained.
“The team then proceeded to the second location which was a house located about 5km away where they found 6,280 cartons of cigerattes,” he added.
In the third raid at Jalan Meteir Garden in Kuala Baram, Khaw informed that they uncovered 7,250 cartons of cigarettes and 2,691 boxes of beers inside three containers.
“We believed that these contraband was meant for the local market and ready to be distributed to areas such as Sibu, Limbang, Lawas and Labuan,” he said.
“The three locations raided were meant as a ‘transit point’ before they distribute the contraband to their distribution locations,” he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
Deputy ACP Kaderi Said and Miri GOF commanding officer Supt Tan Hiap Seng were present.— DayakDaily
