A 31-year-old local man was fined BND363,000 after pleading guilty to five charges involving the possession of contraband items, including cigarettes, vape products and alcohol.
Mohammad Safwan bin Jahidin would have to serve 36 months’ imprisonment in default of payment of the fine.
He was charged under Section 146(1)(d) of the Excise Order 2006, which relates to the possession of dutiable and prohibited goods without a valid permit.
The defendant pleaded guilty to all five charges.Sitting in the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrate’s Court, Senior Magistrate Dewi Norlelawati Haji Abdul Hamid heard that the case stemmed from an operation conducted by Customs enforcement officers on February 15, 2025 at two locations — a residence in the RPN Kampong Tanah Jambu area and another in Kampong Mentiri.
A total of 405 cartons and 151 packets of cigarettes, 68 vape pods and 53 vape accessories, as well as 204 cans and 52 bottles of alcoholic beverages were seized during the operation.
All seized items were ordered to be forfeited and handed over to the Government for disposal.