MMEA thwarts attempt to smuggle in cigarette worth RM700,000

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has thwarted an attempt to smuggle in 100,000 cartons of cigarettes worth over RM700,000 including import duty in the waters of Umbai, Jasin here, early Monday morning.

Kuala Linggi Fifth District Maritime Officer, Maritime Captain Ahmad Faridi Ferdaus said the U2 brand of cigarette, with an import duty of more than RM400,000, were believed to be from Indonesia, adding a fibreglass boat, with four Yamaha engines worth RM250,000, was also seized.

"Based on intelligence, five MMEA members including an officer on Bot Petir 84 detected a boat from Bengkalis, Indonesia about three nautical miles near Pulau Undan, off Jasin.

"The boat berthed at a private jetty in Umbai. More than three individuals unloaded the cigarettes from the boat at 2.30 am. They escaped on land upon realising our presence," he told a media conference here.

-- BERNAMA