A SENIOR citizen was among five men arrested for allegedly smuggling firecrackers and cigarettes worth more than RM1 million in Pasir Gudang, Muar and Johor Baru yesterday.

General Operations Force (GOF) 5th Battalion commanding officer Supt Dimin Awang said police believe they have crippled a firecracker and smuggled cigarette distribution network with the seizure and arrest of the suspects, aged 33 to 64.

In the first raid at 10am, GOF seized 157 boxes of fireworks and a Nissan Terrano car, worth a total of RM115,318, from a property in Jalan Perjiranan, Taman Air Biru, Pasir Gudang, and arrested two people, aged 39 and 42.

In the second operation, the GOF team seized 363 boxes and sacks of firecrackers and confiscated a lorry in Jalan Putera 6, Taman Putera Indah, Muar, valued at RM352,350.

“Two people, aged 33 and 37, were arrested in the 11am operation,” Dimin said in a statement in Johor Baru today.

He said a 64-year-old man was nabbed and 5,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes and a Toyota Unser car, all worth RM913,000, were seized in Jalan Silat Cekak, Taman Selesa Jaya, Skudai in the third raid at 12.30pm. – Bernama, May 8, 2021.