Kelantan customs confiscates RM1.5 Million in smuggled cigarettes

KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Customs Department has confiscated 1,940 cartons of smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately RM1.5 million, including unpaid duties, in two separate operations last month.

No arrests were made as the drivers of two lorries, intercepted in Tumpat and Bachok, fled the scenes on foot during the operations conducted on July 31.

State Customs Director Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long reported that during the first operation at 5:45 a.m., a suspicious lorry was spotted at Kampung Chat in Tumpat.

“The driver fled on foot as our team approached the vehicle. We discovered 1,040 cartons of cigarettes worth RM114,400 in the lorry,” he said.

In the second operation, conducted around 9:30 p.m. at Kampung Badak in Bachok, another suspicious lorry was identified.

“The driver also escaped. Upon inspection, we found 90,000 cartons of cigarettes valued at approximately RM99,000 in the vehicle,” Wan Jamal added.

The department plans to trace the owners of the transport companies associated with the lorries.

“Investigations reveal that the cigarettes were smuggled into the state through the border area by a syndicate using the same company for transportation. We believe the contraband was intended for local distribution,” he said.