TAWAU: A total of 525 unregistered tobacco devices, including electronic cigarettes (vapes), estimated to be worth RM14,000, were seized during an integrated Ops Taring Alpha 3 in the district, recently.
The joint operation involved the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM), the Tawau District Health Office, and Task Force Battalion 14 of the General Operations Force (PGA) Tawau.
Tawau District Health Officer Dr Shameer Khan Sulaiman said the seizures were made after the operation team detected the sale of unregistered vapes in the district.
“Other violations detected included improper packaging and labelling that did not follow the specified guidelines, as well as violations of advertising regulations for tobacco products under the ‘Public Health Smoking Product Control Act 2024’,” he said.
He confirmed that the 525 seized vapes were not smuggled goods, but unregistered items that did not comply with the set conditions, and some had not gone through the proper entry procedures.
Dr Shameer spoke to the media after the Ramadan Bazaar Ops and the 2026 Tuberculosis Health Promotion Programme in Sabindo, Wednesday.
He added that the action was taken following intelligence gathered in cooperation with the PGA team.
“Such operations will continue periodically to ensure legal compliance, especially now that there are clear requirements that sellers and distributors must adhere to,” he said.
“Products must be registered and comply with KKM guidelines, or strict action will be taken, including seizure and disposal of products that fail to meet standards,” he added, noting that all seized devices would be disposed of according to the prescribed procedure.
He added that the department continue strategic cooperation with the PGA to curb the influx of unregistered products into the market and safeguard public health.
