BY James Kon

Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) officers seized a haul of contraband and detained 23 suspects in possession of the items during three operations targetting areas in Kampong Sungai Besar, Kampong Sungai Bakong and Kampong Belimbing.

RCED enforcement personnel seized 240 cans and 56 bottles of alcohol at Kampong Sungai Besar waterway on October 18. They took into custody a boat and its engine believed to have been used to smuggle the contraband.

The following day, the officers during an operation at a foreign workers’ quarters in Kampong Sungai Bakong detained three foreigners aged 25 to 36 for the alleged possession of contraband comprising six packs and 16 sticks of cigarettes as well as one unit of vape with two bottles of vape juice.

The third operation on October 21 at a foreign workers’ quarters in Kampong Belimbing led 20 foreigners aged 19 to 49 being detained for the alleged contraband possession. The contraband included six cartons, 51 packs and 132 sticks of cigarettes with four bottles and five cans of alcohol.

One unit of vape, one bottle of vape juice and BND900 believed to be proceeds from the sale of contraband were also seized.

All the items and individuals involved were brought to the law enforcement office for further investigation.

The RCED advised the public, especially company owners, that it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that their employees comply with the country’s rules and regulations. For the first offence, the suspects can be fined at least eight times the amount of excise duty or BND5,000 whichever is greater and not more than 15 times the amount of excise duty or BND50,000 whichever is greater.

For the second offence, the suspects can be fined not less than 20 times the amount of excise duty or BND10,000 whichever is greater and not exceeding 30 times the amount of excise duty or BND100,000 whichever is greater and imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin