KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 20 -- The two former Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) intelligence officers arrested by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) earlier this month may also be linked to the tobacco, cigarette and cigar smuggling operation raided yesterday.

New Straits Times (NST) quoted an anonymous source saying that the MACC is now probing the possibility of a larger network involving enforcement officers working with smugglers and providing protection for the ring.

"The smuggled cigarettes and cigars were stored in private warehouses before being distributed," said the source.

"Based on preliminary investigations, this smuggling activity may have also been facilitated by certain enforcement officers who provided easy clearance f...