Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Customs Department thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than five million cigarettes worth RM8.05 million in Sandakan last Saturday.
The contraband cigarettes, valued at RM526,228 with estimated duties and taxes amounting to RM7,525,727.60, were hidden in an unnumbered storage facility at Lorong Sedco 9, Batu 3.
Sabah Customs Department Deputy Director-General Datuk Mohd Nasir Deraman said the raid on the storage facility was conducted based on intelligence.
“A team from the Kota Kinabalu Customs Enforcement Division, in collaboration with the Sandakan Customs Enforcement Division, seized a total of 5,262,280 sticks of various brands of untaxed cigarettes,” he said.
Mohd Nasir said on July 13, at approximately 4.55pm, acting on information from the Sabah Zone Intelligence Branch, the team conducted a raid on the store.
Three vehicles – a Proton Persona, a Toyota Hilux, and a Toyota Hiace van – were also seized and three male suspects, aged between 33 and 47, were detained.
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“The modus operandi was to conceal untaxed goods with the intention of evading taxes and gaining a business advantage in the local market,” he said.
He noted that many of these cigarettes are brought into the eastern coastal districts of the State due to the demand from low-income groups, especially plantation workers.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
If convicted, first-time offenders face a fine of not less than 10 times the amount of customs duty or RM100,000, whichever is greater, and not more than 20 times the amount of customs duty or RM500,000, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for a term not less than six months and not exceeding five years, or both.
Mohd Nasir urged the public to assist the department in combating smuggling activities.
“They can do so by providing information on any smuggling activities to the Customs Toll Free Line 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs Office in all states.
“We (department) guarantee that the identity of informants will be kept confidential,” he said.
