Kuching: Police arrested five men in separate raids around Kuching yesterday for their suspected involvement in smuggling and distributing untaxed cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, with total seizures valued at over RM4 million.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA) director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim stated that the raids were executed by Bukit Aman’s Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Intelligence (WCB/PSK) in collaboration with the Sarawak General Operations Force under Op Taring 1 and 2.

In a statement, Azmi detailed that the suspects, aged between 19 and 30, comprise four locals and one foreign national. They were detained at storage facilities and premises believed to be used for illegal distribution activities.

Among the confiscated items were three lorries, 31,740 litres of various types of alcohol, 280,000 sticks of white cigarettes, and 6,000 sticks of clove cigarettes, all suspected to be untaxed, with a total estimated value of RM4.03 million.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.

Azmi noted that this year alone, 153 raids have been conducted nationwide by WCB/PSK, resulting in 233 arrests and total seizures valued at over RM433 million. He urged the public to share information to aid in combating such crimes.