The suspects and contraband cigarettes seized at CIQ Tawau jetty.
TAWAU (Feb 4): The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) crippled an attempt to smuggle in contraband cigarettes worth RM18,000 in CIQ Tawau jetty on Friday.
MMEA Tawau director Captain Shahrizan Raman said MMEA was tipped off of a smuggling activity and immediately mobilised a team to the location at 6am.
“MMEA spotted a boat near the jetty and immediately intercepted it.
“We found about 1,400 packets of contraband cigarettes, worth RM18,000, hidden among bananas inside several gunny sacks.
“A local man, aged 33, and an Indonesian woman, aged 48, were detained for investigation.
“The cigarettes, together with the boat and the boat engine were seized and taken to the MMEA Tawau headquarters for further investigation,” said Shahrizan, adding that all the seized items were worth RM43,000
Shahrizan said both suspects had been detained to assist investigation under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967.