JOHOR BARU: A 21-year old man has been arrested by Johor police yesterday for allegedly smuggling cigarettes into the country.
The man was detained at Jalan Cengkerik near Tampoi Industrialised Area about 4pm when a team of marine police, comprising of six personnel, were carrying out 'Ops Landai' in the area.
Its Region Two chief Assistant Commissioner Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said: "The police team suspected something amiss upon seeing the Proton Waja and asked the driver to stop.
"Further checks led the team to 185 cartons of unpaid cigarettes at the back seat of the car and booth," he said.
Khiu said seizure of the contraband amounted to RM18,000.
"We believe the smuggled contraband is for local distribution and we believe the man was about to distribute the stocks to stores in Johor Baru," he said.
The case is investigated under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967 for smuggling offences.