GOF Detain 14 Myanmar Nationals, Seize E-cigarettes Worth RM750,000

KOTA BHARU, March 23 (Bernama) -- The General Operations Force (GOF) detained 14 Myanmar nationals and seized electronic cigarettes worth RM750,000 in two separate operations in Kota Bharu and Tumpat recently.

Its Southeast Brigade commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the operations, conducted under Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan (OTWK), involved the 8th Battalion in collaboration with the Kota Bharu Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) and the Tumpat District Criminal Investigation Division.

In the first case, a 2.30am raid at a flat near Taman Bahagia uncovered a large quantity of electronic cigarettes believed to be for smuggling to a neighbouring country.

“A suspicious man attempted to open a store before fleeing upon noticing the presence of the team and remains at large.

“Further inspection of the store uncovered 1,800 electronic cigarette devices and 3,800 liquid cartridges, each with a capacity of 30 millilitres, amounting to a total of 114 litres,” he said in a statement today.

The seizure was estimated at RM750,000 and is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, before being handed over to JKDM for further action.

In the second case, at about 5.30am in Kampung Chat, Tumpat, a Strike Force team intercepted two vehicles during patrols in the Pengkalan Kubor sector.

“Checks on the vehicles led to the detention of 14 Myanmar nationals who failed to produce valid identification documents.

“Two local drivers were also detained for allegedly acting as transporters, with initial investigations indicating they were paid RM500 per trip to ferry the individuals to Johor,” he said.

All detainees, along with seized items including two vehicles and 20 mobile phones worth RM170,000, are being investigated under Section 26J of the ATIPSOM Act 2007 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.

-- BERNAMA