GOF team seizes contraband items during Saratok raids
SARATOK: A team from Company C, Battalion 10 General Operations Force (GOF) Temudok Camp Sri Aman seized contraband cigarettes and liquor during two raids following tipoffs on Monday.
Sibu GOF commanding officer Supt Sanudin Md Isa told a press conference yesterday that the seized liquor, cigarettes, and vehicles were valued at around RM2 million.
“It’s the biggest seizure among a total 26 successful raids involving contraband goods and illegal timber we conducted so far this year, which netted about RM6 million worth in seizures,” he said.
During the first raid at a shop here around 11am on Monday, the team seized 412 cartons of cigarettes of various brands worth about RM74,160, which were stashed in two vehicles parked behind the building.
They also arrested a 25-year old man at the shop, after he admitted that the cigarettes, liquor, and two vehicles belonged to him, Sanudin added.
Police seized the vehicles – a saloon car and four-wheel drive worth RM70,000 and RM50,000.
In the second raid on a premises along Jalan Unak, Taman Lily here half an hour later, the team found and seized 9,500 cartons of cigarettes and 150 crates of beer valued at over RM1.732 million, but no arrests were made.
The 25-year-old suspect arrested during the first raid was handed over to local police to facilitate the investigation under Section 135(1)(d) of Customs Act 1967, which provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 or 10 times the value of the seizure, whichever is higher, as well as between six months and five years in prison.
Sanudin added the suspect was released on police bail after his statement was recorded.