$3 million worth of fake cigarettes seized in Malaysia

Authorities here have foiled attempts by a syndicate to use Malaysia as a transit point to ship RM7.7mil (S$2.9 million) worth of counterfeit cigarettes to the middle east. The syndicate which apparently produced the Gauloises Blondes brand counterfeits in a neighbouring country had attempted to ship out to Lebanon and Turkey some 154,500 cartons which were in transit at Westport when officers from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry seized them.