JOHOR BAHRU (BERNAMA) – The Region Two Marine Police Force (PPM) seized 5,535 cartons of contraband white and kretek cigarettes valued at over MYR1.37 million following a raid on a hut at Pantai Bio Desaru, Kota Tinggi, on May 7.
Johor police chief CP M Kumar said the syndicate is believed to have smuggled cigarettes from a neighbouring country via sea routes.
“The syndicate was detected two or three weeks ago and is suspected to have conducted multiple smuggling operations, taking advantage of high tides to unload the cigarettes and the location for unloading constantly changes,” he told a press conference at the Region Two PPM Headquarters yesterday.
Kumar said a man was detected at the location but managed to escape during the raid.
In total, 914,600 cigarettes were found inside the cartons, along with a car, which was also seized.
Kumar added that they have seized various liquor brands and cigarettes worth MYR4.1 million since early January, slightly lower than the MYR5.9 million seized during the same period last year.