POLICE seized 2,097 cigarette cartons and 483 boxes of liquor worth more than RM963,000 in a raid on a house in Taman Sinn, Semabok, Malacca, on Wednesday.

Central Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) commander Muhammad Abdul Halim said a 42-year-old man was arrested during the raid at 9.30am today.

“The seizure involved 393,000 sticks of cigarettes and 11,446 bottles and tins of alcohol. Initial investigations found that the house in question was used for more than a month to store the untaxed cigarettes and liquor,” he told a press conference in Malacca today.

“The man is suspected to be the caretaker of the store. The syndicate is believed to have obtained the supply of cigarettes and alcoholic drinks from a neighbouring country, but further investigations are underway.”

Also present were state Criminal Investigation Department chief Azlan Abu and Melaka Tengah deputy police chief Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz.

Muhammad said the syndicate is suspected to be part of a small network active in the distribution of untaxed cigarettes and alcohol in the state. 

The suspect has been remanded for four days until tomorrow to assist in the investigation. – Bernama, November 12, 2021.