PGA Foils Smuggling Attempt At Kg Pantai Sabak, Seizes Half A Million Cigarettes

KOTA BHARU, May 5 (Bernama) -- The General Operations Force (PGA) has foiled an attempt to smuggle 500,000 sticks of cigarettes during an Ops Taring Alpha 1 raid at Kampung Pantai Sabak here, yesterday.

Southeast Brigade PGA commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the 9.30 pm raid uncovered a Proton Exora and a Nissan Grand Livina by the river, as well as several men unloading boxes into one of the vehicles. 

"The suspects fled by boat as soon as they realised police were present, but one man was successfully detained at the scene," he said in a statement today.

He said an inspection of the vehicles revealed 50 boxes of smuggled Double Happiness cigarettes, estimated to contain 500,000 sticks.

"Checks also revealed that both cars had fake number plates," he added.

Ahmad Radzi said the detained suspect acted as a delivery driver and had been involved in the operation since April last year, after being recruited by a Thai man via WhatsApp.

"The suspect was instructed to drive vehicles that had already been loaded with cigarettes to the Tok Bali area, receiving RM300 for each delivery," he said.

He added that the vehicles were rented by the mastermind from local residents, with registration numbers frequently changed to avoid detection.

"The suspect has never met the mastermind face to face and only received instructions via phone calls and WhatsApp. The total value of the seizure, including the two vehicles, is estimated at RM960,000," he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 108(3)(f) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

-- BERNAMA