KOTA BARU: The National Kenaf and Tobacco Board has seized a large consignment of tobacco leaves smuggled into the state in two vans during an operation, near here, recently.
Its director-general Samsuddin Noor said the seizure, worth more than RM100,000, was made by its Kelantan branch at Alor Pasir near Tanah Merah. However, he said no one was arrested in the 1.30am raid carried out last Tuesday.
"Based on tip-offs, our officers stopped two vans laden with smuggled tobacco leaves when they passed through the area.
"The two drivers, however, fled on foot. Upon checking, the officers found more than 2,000kg of tobacco leaves inside 151 plastic bags," he told reporters.
He said the operation was conducted with the help of the Customs Departmnent officers.
He believed the leaves were smuggled from a neighbouring country via the many illegal jetties along the Kelantan/Thai border.
Samsuddin said the seizure of smuggled tobacco leaves was the second made by the board this year.