BY James Kon

Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) personnel through its Law Enforcement Division seized cash totalling BND132,558 believed to be proceeds from the sale of contraband during a raid on May 10 in Kuala Belait.

Two male Malaysian suspects aged 57 and 63 were detained according to a RCED statement.

Eighteen sticks of cigarettes were also found.

A joint operation the same day with the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Pharmacy Enforcement Division led to detaining a local male, aged 45, suspected of selling medicine in Kampong Tungku. A permanent resident, aged 29, was detained during inspection of the suspected medicine peddler’s residence in RKN Kampong Rimba. Enforcement officers uncovered 15 boxes, three packets and 79 small bottles of prohibited medicine.

Meanwhile on May 9, RCED enforcement personnel raided food stalls at Kampong Rataie, Temburong District and found an Indonesian woman aged 32 selling contraband cigarettes.

Fourteen packets of cigarettes were seized.

Another operation in Kampong Katok saw two male Indonesians aged 27 and 30 detained with two cartons, four packets and 26 sticks of cigarettes. The suspects and the seized items were brought back to law enforcement office for investigation.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin