TAWAU: Owners of premises had been warned not to render any assistance to illegal cigarettes vendors by storing or hiding the latters’ contraband cigarettes.
Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) enforcement chief Azinun Sanarul issued the warning after the recovery of contraband cigarettes hidden in the premises during a joint operation with the Customs and Immigration Departments.
“Don’t collaborate with smuggled cigarette vendors or you will face stern action,” he said yesterday after leading an operation which focused on cigarette pedlars along the five-foot-ways.
The operation which started at 9am saw enforcement personnel divided into groups covering the bus terminal at Stephen Tan Road, the old market, Takada and Sabindo areas.
He said two people were detained by the Customs Department, four by the Immigration Department while the council dealt with two cases involving illegal cigarette pedlars.