KUCHING, Nov 2- The Sarawak Royal Malaysian Customs Department successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle various brands of cigarettes and liquor out of Kuching on the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway, on October 22.

Sarawak customs director, Norizan Yahya said the success was the result of a team of Kuching Marine Unit members inspecting a suspicious 10-tonne cargo lorry.

Norizan said the inspection found 3.4 million cigarettes and 2,376 liters of suspected illegal liquor.

"The amount of cigarettes and liquor including duties and taxes involved amounted to RM2.366 mil, and also confiscated a lorry estimated at RM70,000.

"The total value is RM3.153 mil," Norizan told reporters at Kuching Custom Enforcement Division, here, on Friday (Nov 1).

"A lorry driver in his 40s has been arrested to assist in the investigation," Norizan added.

Norizan also revealed that the modus operandi of this case involved transporting cigarettes and liquor without customs clearance in a refrigerated truck through a transit warehouse in Kuching.

The case is investigated under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967.

If convicted, the offender could be fined up to RM500,000 or imprisoned for up to five years, or both.