By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Nov 12: Marine Police have seized suspected untaxed cigarettes and alcoholic beverages worth RM9.64 million in an intelligence-led operation at a private jetty in Sibu, arresting a man in his 20s.
Sarawak Police Commissioner CP Saifullizan Ishak said the seizure was made by a team from the Marine Police Force Region 5 Sibu Tactical Headquarters during an operation at a private jetty along Sungai Maong, Sungai Batang Rajang, on Nov 7.
Acting on information received during Ops Taring Pensura, the team, using patrol boat PGR 8, conducted a raid and inspection at the location at about 8am.
“During the inspection, the team found a local man of Iban ethnicity, believed to be in his 20s, behaving suspiciously near a container,” he said during a press conference at the Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters here today.
When instructed to open the container, further inspection uncovered various types of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes believed to be untaxed, Saifullizan said.
Following his failure to produce any documents relating to the goods, the man was arrested and the items seized for investigation under the Customs Act 1967.
The case has been handed over to the investigating officer at the Sibu District Police Headquarters (IPD Sibu) for further investigation.
Saifullizan said the total value of the seized items was estimated at RM9,643,952.
Under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967, any person found possessing, storing, concealing or having in their possession uncustomed or prohibited goods may, upon conviction, face a fine of up to RM500,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. — DayakDaily
