Malaysian police seize 2,760 e-cigarettes and 1,200 vape cartridges worth RM396,000 in Tumpat, arresting an 18-year-old suspect.
KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (PGA) Southeast Brigade seized 2,760 electronic cigarettes and 1,200 flavoured vape cartridges worth RM396,000 in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, last week, believed to be destined for Thailand.
Its commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain (pic) said the seizure was among the major successes of Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan, conducted from June 1 to 8 to curb cross-border crime.
He said a raid on a house in Kampung Kok Pauh, Pengkalan Kubor, at 1.30 pm on June 4 led to the arrest of an 18-year-old local man to assist in investigations.
“Inspections uncovered a large quantity of Salt Hub electronic cigarettes and vape liquid cartridges believed to be for distribution and smuggling into Thailand.
“The case is being investigated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), and all seized items have been handed over to the Tumpat District Health Office for further action,” he said in a statement today.
Ahmad Radzi said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect worked as a storekeeper and was involved in transporting electronic cigarettes into and out of Thailand through illegal routes around Kampung Serkong, Pengkalan Kubor.
The products were believed to have been sourced from Kuala Lumpur before being delivered by courier for redistribution and cross-border smuggling.
In a separate operation, the GOF arrested two local men in Pasir Mas and seized 312 packets of ketum juice, along with a car and a motorcycle, valued at RM23,220.
The force also seized 13 compressed blocks of suspected cannabis weighing about 11 kilogrammes and worth RM33,000 at an oil palm plantation in Kampung Baru, Lubok Stol, Pasir Mas.
In Terengganu, Ops Bersepadu Khazanah uncovered an illegal untaxed timber processing operation in Dungun, with total seizures estimated at RM1.27 million.
Ahmad Radzi said the GOF would continue stepping up enforcement operations to curb smuggling and other cross-border crimes.
