KOTA KINABALU, Dec 5 ― A Sarawak customs department official was caught by Brunei authorities on Monday for attempting to smuggle 350 cartons of cigarettes into the country.

The driver of the Customs Department was detained by Brunei Customs at the Kuala Lurah Customs branch on the border Brunei/Sarawak border in Limbang, Sarawak after a check on the official customs vehicle found several boxes containing cigarettes of various brands.

 A report by The Borneo Post said the case involved a 50-year-old suspect who was nabbed on his way from Miri to Limbang.

Photos of several boxes, some wrapped inside black plastic bags with uniformed men appearing to unload them from a four-wheel-drive vehicle with the Malaysian Customs Department logo on it were circulating on social media.

According to the report, the suspect was found guilty and fined B$120,800 (about RM319,010) or a one year jail sentence.

The suspect failed to pay the fine and was imprisoned starting yesterday.

Head of the Limbang Customs Department, Kaddy Jukin said they were still gathering information on the case,” said the report.