Kuala Lampur, Aug. 9 -- TAWAU, Aug 9 -A cigarette smuggler's attempt to escape arrest by speeding 200km from Lahad Datu to here ended when he crashed into a tree in Kg Titingan early Friday.

Sabah Region 4 Marine Police (PPM) Commander, ACP Mohd Nazri Ibrahim, said the suspect's arrest, along with the seizure of 678,400 sticks of cigarettes of various brands and a white van - all worth more than RM1 million - took place at around 2.20 am.

"The suspect, a 43-year-old foreigner male, and the seized goods have been brought to the Tawau Operations Base for further investigation," he said in a statement.

Nazri said the initial attempt to arrest the suspect occurred in the Silam area, when the van was seen acting suspiciously. However, the s...