KOTA BARU: A man was arrested for possessing more than 170,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes, valued at about RM205,000, at Kampung Losong, Kuala Terengganu, on Saturday.
General Operations Force Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said the suspect was arrested in a raid at a house in the village.
He added a GOF team from the Ninth Battalion raided the house at about 6.30pm based on public tip-offs.
"After raiding the place, they found more than 100,000 sticks of white cigarettes and about 70,000 sticks of 'kretek' cigarettes.
"They then arrested the 35-year-old suspect for possession of the illicit cigarettes valued more than RM205,000," he added.
He said the initial investigation showed that the suspect was a dealer who would distribute the items to local buyers.
"The man and the seizure have been handed over to Kuala Terengganu police station for further action," he added.
In another case, he said two men were detained for trying to smuggle 70 boxes of Malaysian 1kg cooking oil in polybags to Thailand yesterday.
Ros Azhan said the two, aged 26 and 31, were travelling in a car when they were stopped at Jalan Banggol Setol in Pasir Mas.
"In the 6.30pm operation, the GOF personnel found the cooking oil valued at about RM2,500 inside the car and later nabbed the two," he added.