MARINE police seized 263,900 cartons of untaxed cigarettes and 249,624 bottles of baby powder worth more than RM9.03 million in a raid on a warehouse at the Taman Klang Jaya industrial area in Klang on Thursday.

Bukit Aman Marine Police Force commander Mohd Yusoff Mamat said under Op Kontraban, the Port Klang marine intelligence unit identified a suspicious warehouse and found the closed door was unlocked.

He said the raiding team conducted the operation at 10.45am at the warehouse and found a container containing 263,900 cartons of untaxed cigarettes worth RM913,720 with a tax value of RM5.62 million.

“Boxes filled with baby powder were also found, believed to be without approval under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, and estimated to be worth RM2.49 million,” he said in a statement today.

He said further checks at the warehouse showed that the syndicate members may have escaped through the toilet window after realising the presence of authorities.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the warehouse is believed to be a transit point before the cigarettes and other products were distributed. The warehouse is believed to be on a short-term lease specifically to conduct the transfer of cigarettes from containers to lorries,” he said.

Yusoff said they also seized a trailer and container worth RM60,000, bringing the total value of seizure to RM9.09 million.

“The cigarettes and container were seized under the Customs Act 1967 and handed over to the customs department while the baby powder was handed over to the Selangor Health Ministry pharmacy department for further action,” he added. – Bernama, July 24, 2021.