A Malaysian man was fined BND465,898 after pleading guilty to two charges of possessing smuggled vape, vape juice, accessories and cigarettes.
Azrul Helmee bin Abdul Ajiz would have to serve 47 months’ jail in default of payment of the fine.
Sitting in the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrates’ Court on September 23, Magistrate Sharifah Nur Baqiyah Malai Shahran heard from the Customs prosecutor that the case arose from an enforcement operation conducted by officers from the Royal Customs and Excise Department at a house in Kampong Sungai Tilong on March 20, 2023, at around 7.58pm.
Items seized included 1,035 units and 11 sets of various types of vapes, 3,121 bottles of various vape juice flavours, 2,407 units and 13 packets of vape accessories, as well as 19 cigarettes.
A Vivo mobile phone with a light blue SIM card, BND688.70 in cash and SGD0.10 were also seized.
The first charge, under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006, concerned the possession of 1,035 units and 11 sets of various vapes, 3,121 vape juice products and 19 cigarettes without a valid licence.
For the first charge, the court imposed a fine of BND419,980, or 32 months’ imprisonment in default.
The second charge, also under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006, involved the possession of 2,407 units and 13 packets of vape accessories.
The court imposed a further fine of BND45,918, or 15 months’ imprisonment in default.
The court also ordered all seized vape products, vape juice, cigarettes and vape accessories to be forfeited to the Government for disposal.
The Vivo mobile phone and SIM card, along with the seized cash of BND688.70 and SGD0.10, were also ordered to be forfeited to the Government.