TAWAU: The Armed Forces’ Joint Task Force 2 (ATB 2) quick response team foiled an attempt to smuggle in 3,500 cartons of contraband cigarettes worth about RM420,000, here, on Sunday.
On seeing the ATB 2 Quick Reaction Force (QRF) personnel moving in, two suspects fled the scene at Lorong Haji Salleh, close to Kg Sri Aman.
ATB 2 Commander Brigadier General Abdul Karim Ahmad said the QRF team was carrying out operations under “Ops Benteng Bersama” when they spotted the duo unloading the boxes at a store.
The store is believed to be a hiding place for contraband cigarettes smuggled in from Indonesia and supplied to the local market.
The cigarettes were handed over to the police for further action.
Abdul Karim thanked the police for their cooperation and support of the operation.
“The close cooperation between the Armed Forces and police remains at a high level through continuous monitoring and effective information sharing to ensure the security in the east coast of Sabah is not breached,” he said.
