Smugglers were forced to abandon RM325,000 worth of kretek (clove cigarettes) and swim to their escape from enforcement officials during a raid.
Southern Region Commander Laksamana Pertama Maritim Che Hassan Jusoh said that the incident occurred on Wednesday at around 9.30pm near the waters off Tanjung Pelepas.
"Our enforcement team spotted a suspicious looking boat going at 40 knots and just as we approached the boat, three men, believed to be locals, jumped into the sea and swam away.
"They managed to escape into the nearby mangrove forests," he said at a press conference.
He added that upon closer inspection, the enforcement team found the boat laden with 3,000 cartons of cigarettes worth RM325,000.
Che Hassan also said that the smuggler's boat had been modified so that the goods could be placed in the seating area.
He added that the case was being investigated under the Customs Act of 1985.
Che Hassan also did not rule out the possibility that someone among his team may have leaked information about the raid to the smugglers, allowing them to escape in time.
"We are investigating all possibilities," he said.
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2008/01/24
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