KUALA TERENGGANU (Bernama): The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has foiled an attempt to smuggle in RM350,000 worth of contraband cigarettes that it discovered on Pulau Karah, an uninhabited Terengganu island.

       Terengganu Maritime director Capt Muhammad Suffi Mohd Ramli said a patrol crew spotted suspicious packages containing 330,000 cigarettes on a beach 1.5 nautical miles from Pulau Bidong at 6pm on Saturday (Aug 21).

       “Several packages of cigarettes wrapped in plastic were discovered, believed to have been smuggled from a neighbouring country.

       “We believe Pulau Karah was being used as a transit point to bring the cigarettes into the peninsula for sale,” he told a press conference at Terengganu Maritime headquarters on Monday (Aug 23).

       He did not rule out the possibility of a local being behind the smuggling attempt.

       “Criminals are now using sea routes because of Covid-19 checkpoints on land routes," he said.

       He added that Terengganu MMEA will step up border surveillance and investigations to identify the suspects.

       He said the case is being investigated under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967. – Bernama