ISKANDAR PUTERI, March 20 -- A cigarette smuggling syndicate's attempt to hide more than RM18 million worth of the contraband with toys failed after the incident was detected by the Customs Department in two separate raids recently.

From the raids, Johor Customs Department enforcement officers managed to seize a total of 21.7 million sticks of undeclared cigarettes on March 4 and March 13 respectively.

Its director Aminul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimi said both raids were carried out at the Customs Inspection Bay at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Gelang Patah here.

He said the estimated value of the seized cigarettes that had undeclared customs duties is worth RM18.3 million.

"The syndicate's modus operandi involved placing 160 boxes cont...