POLICE conducted eight raids in three states and Kuala Lumpur and arrested 14 people for alleged involvement in contraband cigarettes and wildlife smuggling activities, with the total seizure estimated at RM10.7 million.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Hazani Ghazali said the suspects, in their 20s to 50s, were arrested between February 26 and March 22 in Selangor, Pahang, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur. They comprise 13 locals – 12 men and a woman – and a Sri Lankan man.

He said in the first and second raids in Klang and Kajang, police seized 983,160 sticks of contraband cigarettes of various brands, estimated to be worth more than RM1.3 million, and detained a local man.

“A local man was detained in the third raid in Subang Jaya and police seized three marmoset monkeys and 70 birds of various species from the suspect’s shop, with the total seizure estimated at RM260,000),” he said in a statement today.

“The case is being investigated under section 60 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.”

Following the man’s arrest, Hazani said police detained a local woman and seized two blue monkeys and three leopard cats in Sri Kembangan, with total seizure estimated at RM240,000.

He said the case will be investigated under the same law.

He said in the fifth raid, police arrested a local man and a Sri Lankan man in Kepong and seized 10,973.6 litres of contraband beer and 1,306.88 litres of liquor worth an estimated RM465,800. 

“We also seized a vehicle and the total seizure is estimated at RM736,600. The case is being investigated under section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967,” he said.

Hazani said in the sixth raid, police seized 800,000 sticks of contraband cigarettes of various brands worth an estimated RM1.5 million in Puchong and the case is being investigated under the same law.

He said two local men were detained on suspicion of being involved in smuggling and distributing the cigarettes.

He said in the seventh raid, police seized 569,880 sticks of smuggled cigarettes of various brands valued at about RM936,700 and a vehicle in Temerloh, Pahang.

He said in the final raid in Semporna, Sabah, seven local men were held on suspicion of being involved in smuggling petrol.

Police also seized 60,200 litres of petrol, two oil tanker boats, one tugboat and one oil tanker truck, with the total haul estimated at RM5.5 million.

Hazani said the case is being investigated under section 20(1) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961. – Bernama, March 24, 2022.