Seven arrested over contraband fags, beers

MIRI: Police arrested seven individuals, including a woman, for their alleged involvement in the sale of duty-not-paid cigarettes and beers on Monday (Jan 15).

The arrest was made around 3 pm following a joint raid conducted by personnel from Bukit Aman Wildlife Crime Bureau and Bintulu Marine Police Region 5.

Miri police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said all the suspects, aged between 20 and 41, and believed to be workers, were picked up from a premises here.

“Further inspections found that six of the suspects are foreigners, and they were suspected to have been selling illicit goods.

“The team also managed to seize various contraband cigarettes and beers in the store,” he said without elaborating further.

Alexson said the suspects are currently held at the Miri central police lock-up.

He said the case has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for further investigation under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.

Meanwhile, the foreign suspects are being investigated under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

In light of this, the public are urged not to get involved or buy and sell contraband goods.

The boxes of contraband cigarettes and beers found inside a premises in Miri.