KOTA BARU: Police arrested five men and seized illicit cigarettes worth about RM750,000 including its unpaid taxes in separate operations yesterday.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said the operations codenamed Op Contraband in Panji also led to the seizure two lorries and a car.
In the first operation, police have arrested three men and seized 300,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes.
"A police team went to Kampung Pauh near Panji about 3.45am and arrested three men in a car.
"When they checked the lorry further, they discovered the 300,000 sticks of cigarettes," he said in a statement.
Zaki said the cigarettes were of the 'Double Happiness' brand and worth about RM225,000.
He said in the same operation, police detained the fourth man believed to be the group's member.
The four people arrested are aged between 27 and 59.
The fifth suspect was detained in the third operation when 700,000 sticks of the same illicit cigarette brand worth about RM525,000 were seized.
"The man in his late 20s, was arrested at Kampung Panji about 3.30pm yesterday. Also seized was a lorry which was used to transport the cigarettes."
He said initial investigation showed that the cigarettes were smuggled to Kelantan and would be distributed to suppliers in the country.
He added the five, all Malaysians, have been detained for further action.