JOHOR BARU: Police here have foiled an attempt by smugglers to use medical supplies as a front to transport illicit cigarettes.
Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Rupiah Abd Wahid said a team of Region II marine police seized 5, 000 packets of contraband cigarettes worth RM200, 000 after stopping a lorry around the Taman Johor industrial area here at around 1.30pm on Tuesday (July 6).
“Checks on the bonded lorry on its way to send medical equipments to hospitals in Kota Tinggi and Mersing found 10 large boxes containing 50 cartons of illicit cigarettes. The large boxes were put together with the medical equipments, ” she said in a statement here on Tuesday night.
ACP Rupiah added this was the latest tactic used by smugglers to avoid detection by the authorities.
She said police arrested three male suspects in their 20s including the lorry drive, adding that they are currently under remand for seven days to assist the investigation.
ACP Rupiah also said the case was being investigated under Section 135(1)(D) of the Customs Act 1967.
