THE National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (LKTN) in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department seized 2.2 tonnes of smuggled cured tobacco worth RM60,000 in Alor Pasir, Tanah Merah on February 4.

LKTN director-general Samsudin Noor said the two vans were travelling near the Malaysia-Thailand border at Pasir Mas at 1.30am, before both vehicles were abandoned on the roadside in Alor Pasir, after the drivers realised they were being followed by law enforcement personnel.

“Upon checking, 151 packages containing cured tobacco were found in the two vans,” he told a press conference at the LKTN office in Kota Baru, today.

He said all the seized tobacco were sun-cured and heat cured tobacco, believed smuggled in from a neighbouring country, adding it was believed the confiscated tobacco was not for supply to registered companies in the cigarette or tobacco manufacturing industries, but for use in other tobacco industries.

Samsudin said the case was being investigated under Section 52 (1) of the LKTN Act 2009 (Act 692) which provides that no person may transfer, carry, transport cured tobacco or participate in such activities unless they have prior written approval from the LKTN.

“If found guilty, the person can be fined up to RM50,000 or imprisoned for 12 months or both,” he said.

In the meantime, he said, currently, tobacco production nationwide was scarce, so the industry was reliant on imports.

“The entrepreneurs involved can import the tobacco and still be taxed and the tobacco companies can apply for import permits from LKTN,” he said.

To date, 16 tobacco companies licensed to manufacture various tobacco-based products, imported 11,000 tonnes of tobacco throughout 2019, he added. – Bernama, February 9, 2020,