JOHOR BARU, Jan 19 — The Johor Customs Department thwarted a smuggling syndicate’s ruse by uncovering its contraband cigarettes that were hidden in a palm oil plantation in Kampung Pogoh Tengah in Segamat here recently.

Director Misbahudin Parmin said as a result of an inspection at the location, 764,000 sticks of cigarettes of various brands were found hidden under a canvas on January 1.

He said the amount included unpaid taxes of RM1.27 million.

"During the raid, no individuals were in the area where the contraband cigarettes were stored.

"The modus operandi of this syndicate is to smuggle in the untaxed cigarettes from Indonesia and to store it temporarily in the area before being distributed to the local market," said Misbahudin in a press conference at Menara Kastam Johor here today.

Misbahudin said that investigators believe that the syndicate turned the palm oil plantation into a temporary storage for the contraband cigarettes in an attempt to avoid being detected by authorities.

He said the estimated value of the seized cigarettes was RM275,000.

"The Johor Customs Department is still conducting its investigation and have yet to track down the individuals or syndicate involved.

"The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967,” he said.