KUALA LUMPUR: The government has seized smuggled cigarettes worth a total of RM623.41 million from 2022 until September this year.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that during this period, a total of 1,334 cases were recorded, resulting in 1,184 arrests.
The bulk of the seizures were carried out by the General Operations Force and the police, which recorded 912 cases involving 977 arrests and confiscations valued at RM445.1 million.
"Meanwhile, a total of 380 cases, leading to 207 arrests and seizures worth RM157.49 million, were handled by the Marine Police, while the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency recorded 42 cases, with seizures worth RM20.82 million," he said in a written parliamentary reply.
Saifuddin was responding to Zahari Kechik (PN–Jeli), who had asked for a detailed account of cigarette smuggling seizures from 2022 until September 2025.