GEORGE TOWN: The Marine Police Region 1 seized 4.200 cartons of contraband cigarettes worth RM877,800, including tax, during a contraband operation here yesterday.
Its Commander Assistant Commissioner Rusley Chi Ari said police detected a house used as a storage area for the contraband goods.
"We conducted a 72-hour surveillance on the house and found no movement at the premises.
"Subsequently, yesterday, we searched the house, which led to the recovery of the contraband goods comprising 840,000 sticks of the Forman type of cigarettes," he said today.
Rusley said police are still investigating the owner of the premises to assist in investigation.
The case is probed under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for possession or selling of smuggled cigarettes.
The offence carries maximum RM500,000 fine or maximum five years' jail or both upon conviction.
"In line with the directive by the top leadership, we will continue to intensify contraband operations to put a stop to contraband smuggling crime which cause losses to the government," he added.
