BUTTERWORTH: Police have seized RM14.1 million worth of contraband cigarettes, cash and vehicles at two warehouses in a small village near here.
Internal security and public order department chief Zainal Abidin Kasim said a total of 18.4 million sticks of cigarettes (rokok putih) with a tax value of RM13.8 million were found at the warehouses in Tasek Gelugor yesterday.
In a statement, he said six vehicles worth a total of RM300,000 were seized along with RM2,200 in cash. Five men aged between 36 and 63 were detained.
“We believe the warehouses were run by a syndicate evading customs’ duties in the north and central regions of the peninsula,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 on harbouring uncustomed or prohibited goods.