36 brands of imitation cigarettes confiscated

The Health Department scored the biggest success in its operation against illegal cigarettes with the confiscation of 36 brands of imitation cigarettes here yesterday.

The department’s Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit headed by assistant director (Legal Affairs & Prosecution) Samuil-Ashton Satu in the one-day operation also found six outlets selling the illegal fags far below the minimal price and without pictorial health warnings as stipulated under the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004.

These illicit fags are sold as low as RM1.80 to RM3.20 per packet, depending on its brand. This is very much below the minimal price of RM7 per packet approved by Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

“It’s the biggest ever success on illicit cigarettes. All this while we conduct our operation for other offences too but we don’t find much illicit cigarettes. From reliable sources, cigarettes are sold below the minimal price without pictorial health warnings at a lot of retail shops and even public toilets,’ he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He said the one-day operation on illicit fags in Miri City in response to the Oct 9, 2011 article in thesundaypost headlined ‘Losses to illicit cigarettes far outweigh any potential monetary gains’. One of the questions posted was ‘Are health authorities and other relevant agencies doing their part in checking and penalising premises that sell these types of cigarettes?’

Samuil said his eight-member team of officers from Miri Divisional Health Office made surprise visits to various locations around the city such as the Bus Terminal, E-mart Permyjaya, Boulevard Commercial Centre, Krokop Market, Pujut Corner and Miri Market.

The sellers were given notice under Section 32B of the Food Act 1983 to appear in the magistrate’s court, Miri. They could opt to be compounded, especially for minimally-priced cigarettes.

But the offence of selling cigarettes without pictorial health warnings was not compoundable and any offender convicted could be fined not exceeding RM10,000, jailed two years or both.

Samuil reminded buyers that there was a great possibility that the content of tar and nicotine in illicit cigarettes far exceeded the limit approved by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

Furthermore, illicit fags might contain more chemicals poisonous to health, and have more negative effects on health including cancer.

Similar operations on an ad hoc basis would be carried out throughout the state.