Sabah Marine Police Seize Untaxed Cigarettes and Liquor Worth RM5.37 Million in Joint Raids

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 17 — The Region 4 Sabah Marine Police (PPM) seized untaxed cigarettes and liquor worth nearly RM5.37 million across three separate raids conducted in Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu early this week.

In a statement today, Region 4 Sabah PPM revealed that the first raid took place at an unregistered jetty along the Seguntur River in Sandakan at approximately 1:30 am on Sept 15. The operation was executed as part of a joint effort with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following intelligence gathering.

The initial raid led to the arrest of a 45-year-old man and the recovery of 1.82 million sticks of contraband cigarettes of various brands believed to have been smuggled from a neighbouring country, valued at an estimated RM2.564 million.

Following information gathered during the arrest, the raiding party located a second speedboat concealed within mangrove trees along the Seguntur River. An inspection of the vessel yielded an additional 1.73 million sticks of untaxed cigarettes worth an estimated RM2.326 million.

In a separate operation on Sept 14, marine police officers raided an unnumbered warehouse in Kampung Dambai along the Jalan Tuaran Bypass in Kota Kinabalu, seizing 43,200 cans of suspected untaxed liquor valued at RM478,506.

The cases are currently under investigation under Sections 135(1)(d) and 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967.

“The latest success reflects the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and strategic cooperation with the MACC in strengthening enforcement efforts and combating the smuggling and distribution of untaxed goods,” Region 4 Sabah PPM said, adding that enforcement operations will continue to be intensified.

According to the statement, Region 4 Sabah PPM recorded 61 cases under the Customs Act 1967 between January and Sept 15 this year, resulting in 40 arrests and total seizures valued at RM8,386,812.61.

–NMT