KOTA BARU: The new year is more than three months away, but the smuggling of firecrackers and fireworks has already started along the Kelantan/Thai border.
This was discovered by the state Malaysian Border Security Agency (Aksem) in its latest operation in Gua Musang where officers seized items worth nearly RM50,000 and detained two men.
Kelantan Aksem commander Rusli Karim said the seizure was made along the Gua Musang-Kuala Lumpur highway on Sept 13.
“An Aksem team stopped a lorry after receiving information that it was carrying smuggled firecrackers and fireworks.
“After checking the vehicle, Aksem officers found 172 boxes containing various types of firecrackers and fireworks hidden under a bundle of clothes.
“The men, aged 28 and 51 are both locals,” he told a press conference here today.
Rusli said initial investigations showed the banned items with unpaid duties of about RM30,000, were smuggled from China before being transported here via the many illegal jetties along the border in Rantau Panjang.
“Our investigations also revealed that the firecrackers and fireworks were meant for the western states for the New Year celebrations.
“This is the latest modus operandi by smugglers who will store the items elsewhere before distributing them in stages,” he said.
On another development, he said Kelantan Aksem had seized about RM115,000 worth of imitation SAAT brand cigarettes in an operation at Kampung Padang Kabu near Banggu last night.
He said a lorry used to transport the cigarettes was also seized but no arrests were made in the 7.30pm operation.