A 45-year-old local man was fined BND14,400 after pleading guilty to possessing smuggled cigarettes.
Ali bin Haji Hassan would have to serve 14 months’ imprisonment in default of payment of the fine.
He was charged under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006.
Sitting in the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrate’s Court, Senior Magistrate Dewi Norlelawati Haji Abdul Hamid heard that the offence took place on January 23, 2025 at a residence in the RPN Panchor Mengkubau area.
A total of six cartons and 121 packets of cigarettes of various brands were seized during the operation.
Cash amounting to BND317 was also seized.
All seized items, including the cigarettes and cash, were ordered to be forfeited and handed over to the Government for further action.