THREE MEN ARRESTED AFTER DISCOVERY OF 7,425 CARTONS OF CONTRABAND CIGARETTES 

Peter (3^rd left) and other officers showing the seized contraband cigarettes during the media conference

TAWAU: Three men were arrested following the seizure of 7,425 cartons of contraband cigarettes worth RM 50,000 from a lorry at the Kalabakan Road Checkpoint (RCP) early Monday.

OCPD ACP Peter Umbuas said General Operations Force Battalion 17 personnel from Lahad Datu manning the RCP stopped a lorry which was driven in a suspicious manner at about 1.55 am.

A check was conducted on the rear container and found 297 black plastic bags containing 7,425 cartons of “Premium” brand cigarettes believed to be smuggled and 36 rolls of plastic, Peter said.

The suspects nabbed were two locals and a foreigner, aged 34 and 44. They included the lorry driver and his attendant who were remanded for four days for investigations under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, he added.

A third suspect believed to be an accomplice, was arrested at 1.57 am after he approached the GOF personnel with an envelope containing RM 2,000 as an inducement to release the lorry driver and attendant, Peter said.

He was driving a double cabin four wheel drive vehicle that had passed the RCP but turned around on realizing the lorry was stopped by the GOF personnel. He would be referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for further action, Peter said.

We believed the lorry was heading to Keningau from Kalabakan with the contraband cigarettes. All the items seized including the lorry were estimated worth RM 170,000, he said.

Among those present at the media conference were Deputy OCPD Supt Nor Azizulkifli Mansor and GOF Battalion 17 officers.—(NEW SABAH TIMES)