KOTA KINABALU: Police have foiled an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes worth RM8.7 million in the east coast Tawau district.
A team from the General Operations Force (GOF) made the seizure after they intercepted a lorry near Kampung Merotai Besar yesterday.
Sabah GOF brigade commander Abdul Rani Alias said his men from the 14th battalion spotted the lorry at 10am and became suspicious when they noticed a large canvas sheet covering the back of the vehicle.
They flagged down the lorry and found 6.1 million sticks of contraband cigarettes hidden in it. The 37-year-old driver was detained.
The seized items will be handed to the customs department, said Rani.