General Operations Force raids net over RM1 million in vapes and liquid across five states, also bust migrant smuggling and pork smuggling syndicates.
KUALA LUMPUR: The General Operations Force Central Brigade confiscated vape products valued at over RM1 million in a major nationwide operation.
Commander SAC Hakemal Hawari said the simultaneous raids, codenamed Op E-Cig Mega, targeted 30 premises across five states last Tuesday.
Authorities seized 2,263 vape devices and 165.463 litres of electronic cigarette liquid during the coordinated action.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Health Ministry and local authorities.
Raids took place at 11 locations in Kuala Lumpur, four in Selangor, three in Negeri Sembilan, five in Melaka and seven in Johor.
A total of 51 individuals were screened, leading to the detention of two foreign men under the Immigration Act.
Compounds and summonses worth RM28,500 were also issued by the MOH and local councils for various offences.
These included selling products without licences and violations under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
In a separate case, the brigade crippled a migrant smuggling syndicate active in Sabak Bernam, Selangor.
Hakemal said 41 individuals were detained in a coastal raid conducted as part of Op Taring Delta.
The detainees included 21 adult men, 17 adult women and a boy.
Investigations suggest two Acehnese men, long-term residents of Malaysia, acted as boat skippers for the syndicate.
“They used large deep-sea fishing vessels via routes along the northern coast of Selangor,” Hakemal said.
The syndicate allegedly charged between RM1,500 and RM3,000 per person for each smuggling trip.
Meanwhile, GOF Northern Brigade commander SAC Balveer Singh reported separate raids in the north.
His team seized 2,684 bottles of vape liquid and devices worth RM252,245 from 22 premises.
Raids were conducted at 11 locations in Perak, eight in Kedah and three in Penang.
A total of 23 individuals were detained during these northern operations.
One premises in Kulim, Kedah, was suspected of being used to process electronic cigarette liquid.
In another operation, the Northern Brigade seized 40 pig carcasses worth RM96,390 in Perlis.
The carcasses are believed to have been smuggled from Thailand without valid permits.
Two local men, aged 32 and 63, were detained in connection with the pork smuggling case.
