Johor bahru: The Johor Customs Department has crippled a smuggling operation involving cigarettes and liquor through four separate raids in Batu Pahat, Muar and Negeri Sembilan in June and July, resulting in seizures worth RM698,328.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johor Customs director Aminul Izmeer Mohd Suhaimi disclosed that the first raid took place on June 11 at a house in Taman Bahagia, Batu Pahat. This operation uncovered 22,560 sticks of white and kretek cigarettes of various brands and 394.42 litres of liquor suspected to be duty-unpaid. Additionally, a Toyota Vellfire valued at RM180,000 was seized, bringing the estimated total value of the goods and taxes to RM239,513.

In a second raid conducted on June 25 at a residence in Kampung Parit Kassim, Batu Pahat, the department seized 134,430 sticks of white and kretek cigarettes and 501.25 litres of liquor. The concealed items were found in a room, with the seizure, including duties and taxes, estimated at a value of RM173,101.

The third raid on July 6 involved officers and personnel from Batu Pahat Customs tracking down and stopping a Proton X70 on Jalan Kim Kee, Muar. Inside, they found 39,600 sticks of white cigarettes believed to be duty-unpaid.

The fourth operation, conducted on July 8 at a house in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, uncovered 64,800 sticks of cigarettes of various brands. A Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 at the location was also part of the seizure, with the estimated value, including taxes, amounting to RM173,483.

Aminul Izmeer noted that these four raids led to the arrest of four local men aged between 20 and 60. The cases are currently being investigated under Section 135 of the Customs Act 1967.