Tobacco News and Interesting Information

The Anti-Smuggling Unit believes the Thai brand cigarettes seized at Kampung Melayu here last night are processed in an illegal factory in the country before being smuggled out to Thailand.

Ten thousand packets of "Krong Thip 90" cigarettes were seized when an anti-smuggling unit team from here searched a vehicle bearing Thailand registration number plate near a spot believed to be the transit centre for the cigarettes.

Krong Thip 90 is a Thai brand cigarette popular in Malaysia. Syndicates are believed to be cashing in on the cheaper price of tobacco in Malaysia to produce "imitation cigarettes" in the country under the same brand name.

Perlis Anti-Smuggling Unit acting commander ASP Ku Yaacob Ku Hamad said the RM45,000 worth of contraband seized last night following a public tip-off was the biggest cigarette haul in the state so far this year.

During the raid, a suspect believe to be a Thai national who was in the vicinity, fled, he said.

He said the raiding party confiscated 20 boxes containing 10,000 packets of the cigarettes from the black-coloured vehicle.

Ku Yaacob said the case would be handed to the customs authorities for further action.

The raiding team also seized 560kg of frozen meat in 28 boxes from the same vehicle. The meat, worth about RM4,600, has been handed to the Veterinary Services Department for further action.