Penang Customs Foils 240 Smuggling Attempts, Seizes Over RM28 Mln Goods

BUTTERWORTH, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Penang successfully foiled 240 smuggling and customs duty evasion attempts between January and August, resulting in seizures valued at over RM28 million, including duties. 

State director Datuk Roselan Ramli stated that cigarettes topped the list with 107 cases, amounting to RM2.7 million in goods and RM9.28 million in duties.

There were 81 cases involving liquor amounting to RM1.739 million, with RM6.64 million in duties, he added. 

"We also seized RM1.013 million worth of drugs in four cases and uncovered 39 vehicle-related cases, with seizures valued at RM1.664 million and RM2.56 million in taxes," he said during a press conference today at the Enforcement Storage Facility in Bagan Jermal.

Roselan noted that four currency smuggling cases were also intercepted valued at RM473,971.69, and other cases involving tobacco and soft drinks, valued at RM1.68 million, including RM704,992.73 in taxes.

Meanwhile, he appealed for information to locate an Indian national, Mohamed Basith Mohamed Rafi, 42, who failed to appear in court for a case related to the possession of 178,000 white cigarette sticks valued at RM133,148.40, including customs duties.

He said the accused, who entered Malaysia in 2017 as a construction worker, was charged in 2021 and temporarily released on bail but failed to attend court on three occasions for the scheduled verdict of the case.

“The magistrate sentenced the accused to 28 months in prison for both charges under Section 425A of the Criminal Procedure Code, and ordered the forfeiture of bail from the two guarantors,” he said.

Roselan added that the individual is still believed to be in the country, as his passport remains in the court's possession.

Anyone with information about the individual is urged to contact the investigating officer, Customs Supt Yusof Mohamed Salleh, at 013-534 1032.

-- BERNAMA