TUMPAT: A man was arrested for possessing more than 400,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes worth about RM480,000 yesterday.
The 28-year-old suspect was driving a car when he was apprehended at Kampung Dalam.
Another driver, however, managed to escape during the 1.30am operation.
General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said the cigarettes were seized from two cars.
"The GOF personnel from the Eighth Battalion flagged down two cars as they passed through the area.
"One of the drivers managed to escape, while the other was arrested.
"Further checks inside the cars revealed more than 400,000 sticks of cigarettes believed to have been smuggled from Thailand," he said.
In another development, a lorry driver was arrested with 435 units of counterfeit handbags valued at about RM435,000 on Saturday.
Nik Ros Azhan said the seizure occurred in front of a petrol station at around 6.30pm.
"The 34-year-old driver was believed to have been hired by an individual to transport the items to local buyers.
"The handbags were smuggled in from Thailand," he said.
An hour later, another GOF team seized several boxes containing Thai cosmetic products valued at approximately RM120,000.
However, no arrests were made during the 7.30pm operation at the Epek illegal jetty.