Crime & Courts

Another illicit cigarette trafficking syndicate busted in Penang [NSTTV]

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Less than a week after Bukit Aman police busted an illicit cigarette trafficking syndicate, Penang police scored another success with the seizure of 4,751,200 sticks of cigarettes worth RM7,804,860 million in three raids in Machang Bubuk and Bukit Tengah here on Saturday.

During the "Op Kontraban" operation, police also detained 12 men, aged between 18 and 38, believed to be syndicate members, to assist investigations into the case.

State police chief Datuk Sahabudin Abdul Manan said acting on a tip off, a team of police from the state contingent headquarters and Seberang Prai Tengah district headquarters launched three raids beginning at 5am in three terrace houses in Machang Bubuk and Bukit Tengah.

Following surveillance and monitoring, Sahabudin said, the raiding team ambushed the first house at Alma about 10.30am where they nabbed six local men.

He said the raiding party then stormed the second house at Taman Seri Juru about 11.30am and arrested another five local men there.

He added that in the third raid about noon at Taman Cendana Juru, police nabbed the 12th man.

"The illicit cigarettes in 34,000 cartons, including white cigarettes and kretek, were seized from all three houses. The syndicate members are believed to have rented the three terrace houses, which they used as living quarters as well as storage areas.

"Besides the 12 men arrested, police also seized nine vehicles worth RM236,000, bringing the total amount of seizure, including the illicit cigarettes to RM8,040,860.

"We believe the illicit cigarette trafficking syndicate has been active for the past four months, mainly targeting the northern region market," he told a press conference at the Seberang Prai Tengah district police headquarters here this morning.

Also seized was a laptop where all the orders for the illicit cigarettes are keyed in as well as several cell phones.

Sahabudin said investigations revealed the illicit cigarettes were brought in from a neighbouring country.

"We are still investigating if they are being brought into the country by sea or land.

"We are also probing if the syndicate is linked to another busted last Wednesday," he added.

Sahabudin said the men have been remanded for 13 days to assist investigations under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for possession or selling of smuggled cigarettes.

Last Wednesday, Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA) foiled an illicit cigarette trafficking syndicate with the seizure of 18,490,000 sticks of cigarettes worth RM13,867,500 during raids at a warehouse and store in Tasek Gelugor.

During the operation, also called "Op Kontraban" police detained five men, aged between 36 and 63, to assist investigations into the case.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Zainal Abidin Kasim said acting on a tip off and four-month surveillance, they launched two raids on the cigarette trafficking syndicate.

Besides the arrest of the five local men, he said during the raid, they also seized cash amounting to RM2,200 as well four lorries and two cars worth RM300,000.

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