Bid To Smuggle Over 100 Kris Foiled
By Liza Mohd

Bandar Seri Begawan - An attempt to smuggle more than 100 different types of Malay kris through the Sungai Tujoh Control Post was foiled yesterday morning by the Belait District Customs Preventive and Intelligence Section.

The enforcement agency said the prohibited and restricted items were brought in by an Indonesian man from Pontianak, who claimed that he was on his way to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Apart from various types of kris, the suspect also attempted to smuggle nine compact, discs featuring religious talk by Ustaz Hussein bin Abu Bakar Al Habsyi and 200 small bottles of ointment in a foreign-registered vehicle. He was accompanied by a male passenger.

According to the government agency, the suspect fled from the scene during the inspection at the control post after endorsing his passport at about 10am.

Following his suspicious behaviour, customs officials on duty chased the vehicle and caught up with the driver at the toll payment booth in Jalan Rasau. Both the driver and passenger were arrested and brought the car back to Sungai Tujoh Customs control post for inspection.

Officials found a few kris concealed under the middle rear seat. The suspect was later brought to the Customs Preventive and Intelligence office for inspection and further investigation. Various types of kris were later discovered hidden below the rear seat of the vehicle, inside a box in the boot and inside their luggage.

Among the items discovered included 45 covered kris, 16 komada stick kris, three badik kris, three bone covered kris, four types of cangkang tiga kris, two short swords, nine long swords, two stick kris, one bird-headed sondang kris, two axe-type kris, three kalakati kristo cut beetle nuts, two kitchen knives, three small kris as well as 13 antique items.

The suspect claimed he brought the kris and other items for exhibition and sale in the capital. All the items have been seized and investigations are ongoing.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with