Foreigner, Orang Asli among six detained for selling smuggled cigarettes, liquor

KOTA BHARU: A foreigner and an Orang Asli man were among the six individuals detained by the Customs Department for selling various types of smuggled cigarettes and liquor in a premises in Gua Musang last week.

Kelantan Customs director Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long said during the three-day anti-counterfeit operation dubbed Op Label Palsu which began on Dec 11, a total of 165,008 cigarettes and 279.26 litres of liquor with unpaid tax totalling RM176,959 were seized, along with a Honda Odyssey car used for running the business.

"We have arrested an Indian national and five locals, all in their 30, 40s, and 50s.

"The Indian national has been remanded for 14 days until Dec 26, while the five local individuals were released on bail between RM5,000 and RM6,000 each," he told a press conference here today.

Wan Jamal said investigations were ongoing to ascertain the modus operandi used by the suspects in bringing in the items to the state.

The case involving the cigarettes is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, while the case involving the liquor, under Section 32(1) of the Excise Act 1976, he added.

-- BERNAMA