Kuala lumpur: The General Operations Force (GOF) foiled an attempt to smuggle electronic cigarettes and vape liquid worth RM396,000 and arrested a suspect during a raid on a house in Kampung Kok Pauh, Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, yesterday. During the Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan operation at 1.30 pm, a Strike Force team from the 8th GOF Battalion detained an 18-year-old local man believed to be involved in the activity to smuggle the goods to Thailand.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, GOF Southeast Brigade commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said a search of the premises uncovered 2,760 units of Salt Hub-brand electronic cigarettes in various flavours and 1,200 vape liquid cartridges of the same brand. He mentioned that the suspect was believed to be a storekeeper who was also involved in transporting the vape products to Thailand through illegal crossing points around Kampung Serkong, Pengkalan Kubor.

"Preliminary investigations found that the products were believed to have been sourced from Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, before being transported to Kelantan via courier service. Intelligence gathering and continuous monitoring by the GOF detected the storage of electronic cigarette products believed to be intended for smuggling into the neighbouring country," Ahmad Radzi stated in a statement last night.

Ahmad Radzi further explained that the seized items were estimated to be worth RM396,000, and the suspect has been handed over to the Tumpat District Health Office for further action under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.