JOHOR BARU, March 15 — Police confiscated 207 boxes containing various types of contraband cigarettes worth more than RM1.5 million after raiding two houses in Taman Johor here yesterday.

Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said a team from the Region Two Marine Police Force (PPM) conducted the first raid at 10am in Jalan Ledang in Taman Johor.

"Through the raid, a total of three individuals, consisting of two local men and one foreign national, aged between 42 and 58, were arrested.

"During the raid, the police seized a total of 81 boxes of U2 brand cigarettes and 55 boxes of NYX Menthol brand cigarettes.

"The raiding team also seized two vehicles, a Toyota Vellfire and Perodua Myvi, as part of the raid,” Kamarul Zaman told reporters during a press conference at Region Two PPM headquarters in Tampoi here today.

Kamarul Zaman said the second raid was conducted at 10.30am at Jalan Sri Pantai in Taman Johor where the team seized 62 boxes of U2 brand cigarettes and two boxes of RE King cigarettes.

He said the estimated value of all the cigarettes confiscated in the two raids amounted to RM1,555,848 while the two vehicles were worth RM180,000, with a total of RM1.7 million.

"The seizure of the cigarettes and kretek cigarettes is considered the biggest in Johor so far this year,” he said.

Kamarul Zaman said the case is investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 where those convicted will face a fine not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000 whichever is greater and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher.

He explained that those convicted may also face imprisonment of between six months and five years.