TAWAU: The seizure of 150,700 cartons of white cigarettes worth RM24.2 million, including duties, in waters off Pulau Sipadan, Semporna, on Tuesday is the largest recorded by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) since its establishment in Sabah and Labuan.
MMEA Sabah and Labuan director First Admiral Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali said the cigarettes, believed to have originated from Vietnam, were suspected to be intended for markets in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, with the seizure involving 2,956 boxes of Bossqu cigarettes, 40 boxes of New Aris, 15 boxes of Berlin and three boxes of New Far, each containing 50 cartons.
He said the success of Ops Sejahtera and Op Tiris, carried out by KM Kidurong with 12 enforcement personnel from the Tawau Maritime Zone, also resulted in the seizure of a cargo vessel, a kumpit boat, navigation and communication equipment, GPS and radar systems, mobile phones and shipping documents, bringing the total estimated value of the seizure to RM65.7 million.
A total of 20 men aged between 26 and 62, comprising Malaysians as well as Indonesian, Filipino, Myanmar and Indian nationals, including the alleged skippers of the cargo vessel and kumpit boat, were detained after authorities detected suspicious activity about seven nautical miles south of Sipadan following months of intelligence gathering.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, Immigration Act 1959/63 and Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, while all detainees remain in MMEA custody pending remand applications and further investigations.
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