IPOH: The Perak Customs Department seized RM1.65mil worth of contraband cigarettes and alcohol from three different locations in Teluk Intan and Ipoh.

       The department’s enforcement deputy director-general Datuk Abdul Wahabi Abdullah said the raids by the Perak enforcement teams were carried out between July 24 and Aug 6.

       Abdul Wahabi said during the first raid on July 24 at about 5am, the enforcement team found 1.3 million sticks of cigarettes worth RM1.2mil inside an abandoned lorry parked at the Batuk Rabit rest and recreation area in Teluk Intan.

       “The lorry was seized as well, and investigations are ongoing as to who it belongs to,” he said in a statement Monday (Aug 9).

       Abdul Wahabi said on July 30, an enforcement team also raided an empty premises used as a storage area in Taman Impiana in Teluk Intan, where more than 400,000 cigarette sticks worth RM350,000 were confiscated.

       “As for the latest raid on Aug 6 at a premises in Menglembu, near Ipoh, a total of 1,033.24 litres of alcohol of various brands worth RM100,000 was confiscated from a secret location within the premises.

       “In this raid, two men - a local and a Pakistan national - were arrested at about 10am to help in the investigations,” he added.

       Abdul Wahabi said investigations for all three cases are being carried out under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for smuggling.

       Offenders can be fined not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times the value of goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher, or face a jail of between six months and five years, or both.