BY James Kon

The Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) through its Law Enforcement Division raided homes in Jalan Beribi and Jalan Jaya Negara in Belait District as well as on stalls in Kampong Mata-Mata in Gadong, where they discovered a massive volume of cigarettes believed to have been smuggled into the Sultanate.

In the first operation on June 14, enforcement personnel targetted two houses in Jalan Beribi. Four foreign men aged 22 to 54 were detained for the alleged possession of contraband comprising two cartons, 19 packets and 19 sticks of cigarettes.

The team raided a house in Jalan Jaya Negara the following day. Customs enforcement personnel detained a 43-year-old local man for the alleged possession of 128 cartons, 19 packets and 12 sticks of cigarettes, as well as three boxes of firecrackers and fireworks. All items were confiscated.

On June 16, two houses and two stalls in the vicinity of Kampong Mata-Mata were targetted, resulting in the detaining of two local men and a local woman, aged 26 to 48, for alleged possession of 67 cartons, 40 packets and 32 sticks of cigarettes, as well as BND78 believed to be proceeds from the sales of the contraband.

All contraband was seized and the individuals were hauled to the law enforcement office for investigation.

The RCED extended gratitude for the public tip-offs. The public can continue to share information on smuggling activities or customs violation by contacting 8714422 or 8721422.

The informant’s identity will be kept confidential.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin