Malaysia: 80pc of Suspected Cigarette Smugglers Nabbed This Year Were Foreigners

Source from:  Malay Mail  12/16/2013

About 80 per cent of the 114 people nabbed for allegedly smuggling cigarettes between January and last month were foreigners.

Selangor customs department director Badaruddin Mohamed CRafik said, of the number, 35 were charged in court for various offences under the customs act 1967.

Between January and November this year, the department seized cigarettes worth rm4.9 million in a total of 313 raids, he said.

Last year, the department conducted 226 raids and seized rm8.4 million in contraband cigarettes.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the 2013 integrated operation to eradicate cigarette smuggling here today.

The two-week operation involves the state health department and the Selangor branch of the domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism ministry. Enditem