Four held in Perak contraband raids, RM115,551 in liquor and cigarettes seized

IPOH – Four people were arrested by Perak police under Ops Kontraban Mega in three separate raids in the Pengkalan Hulu and Gerik districts yesterday, with liquor and smuggled cigarettes worth about RM115,551.80 seized.

Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the first raid was carried out at about 5pm at a business premises along Jalan Taufil, Pengkalan Hulu, by the Criminal Investigation Department together with the Public Safety and Order Division (KDNKA) of the Pengkalan Hulu district police headquarters (IPD).

Checks uncovered various types of liquor and cigarettes suspected to be untaxed, stored under a grocery shelf.

"Two local women aged 57 and 44 were detained to assist investigations. The estimated value of the seizure in the first raid was RM32,117, involving liquor worth RM3,917 and cigarettes worth RM28,200," he said here today.

Second raid on Jalan Iskandar

Mohd Alwi said the second raid took place at about 7pm at a business premises on Jalan Iskandar, Pengkalan Hulu, where suspected untaxed items were found in the store room.

"A local man aged 36, who is the owner of the premises, was detained. The value of the seizure in the second raid is estimated at RM32,694.80, involving liquor worth RM10,154.80 and cigarettes worth RM22,540," he said.

Car stopped in Gerik

In a separate operation in Gerik at about 10.10am, a police team from the Gerik IPD Criminal Investigation Department, with the cooperation of the district KDNKA, stopped a silver Toyota Vios behaving suspiciously along Jalan Kampung Padang Kunyit.

"Inspection of the vehicle uncovered 100 cartons of cigarettes suspected to be untaxed, made up of 50 cartons of the John brand and 50 cartons of the D&J brand," he said.

The Toyota Vios, believed to have been used in the activity, was also seized, while a local man aged 39 was detained for further investigation.

In all, the operation led to the arrest of four people — two local men and two local women.

"All cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967. The seized items will be handed over to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department for further action and sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis," he said.