BY James Kon

Marine Police personnel seized 1,050 cartons of cigarettes on September 6 during a routine patrol along the waterways of Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge.

According to the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Marine Police personnel on detecting a suspicious boat, approached the vessel for an inspection.

The boat driver, upon noticing the Marine Police boat, sped away in an attempt to escape.

The Marine Police gave chase and the suspects entered Kampong Sungai Bunga area where the boat driver and two passengers then ran away, abandoning the boat and its contents at the river bank.

Police personnel inspected the abandoned boat and found packages containing contra-band hidden under a canvas and fishing net.

The boat and contraband were brought to the Marine Police headquarters. The case was then handed over to the Royal Customs and Excise Department.

The RBPF will continue to increase its patrol and monitoring to curb illegal activities including the smuggling of contraband into the country.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin