Customs seize smuggled cigarettes worth more than RM2 million at Temerloh R&R
17 Jan 2023 06:20pm
Pahang customs director Wan Apandi Wan Hassan showing the smuggled cigarettes to the media - FILE PIC
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Pahang customs director Wan Apandi Wan Hassan said the smuggled cigarettes were seized from a lorry that was parked at the R&R at 8.30 am on Jan 5.
"Upon inspection, the lorry was found to be loaded with cigarettes that are banned from being imported into the country which were worth RM258,800 while duty and tax for the smuggled items amounted to RM1.9 million.
"Following the raid, a 56-year-old local man, believed to be the driver of the lorry was detained for investigations," Wan Apandi said at the customs office, here today.
He said the lorry was believed to be headed to Kuala Lumpur from an East Coast state and did not rule out the possibility that the syndicate involved in the smuggling activity was using a false registration number for the lorry to fool the authorities.
The syndicate is believed to have sourced the smuggled cigarettes at the country’s border while the consignment would be taken to other locations for distribution.
Investigations will be carried under the Customs Act 1967- BERNAMA
