Kelantan Customs Foils Attempts to Smuggle 173 Tonnes Of Rice

PASIR MAS, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan Customs Department foiled attempts to smuggle 173.35 tonnes of rice from a neighbouring country through a series of raids around Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas and Jeli between July 15 and Aug 15.

Its director, Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long, said the rice seizure, estimated to be worth RM468,045, involved RM187,718 in unpaid taxes, while the estimated value of the seized vehicles reached RM1.39 million.

He added that, overall, the total seizures were estimated at RM2.04 million.

"Under this integrated operation, we detained six lorry drivers and lorry attendants and seized 3,467 sacks of rice weighing 173,350 kilogrammes (kg), which were believed to have been smuggled in using small lorries before being transferred to trailer lorries to be transported out of Kelantan.

"Among the locations raided were Kampung Nibong, Bukit Bunga; Kampung Telaga Bijih and Kampung Belimbing in Tanah Merah; Jalan Bukit Panau, Tanah Merah and Jalan Bukit Tunku, Pasir Mas; with the largest amount seized - 45 tonnes worth RM121,500 - recorded in Kampung Telaga Bijih,” he told a media conference at the Rantau Panjang Enforcement Branch here today.

Wan Jamal said the cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of not more than 20 times the value of the goods or imprisonment between six months and five years, or both, upon conviction.

He urged the public to assist the Customs Department in combating smuggling activities, particularly those involving cigarettes, liquor, fireworks, drugs and vehicles.

"The public is encouraged to channel information on smuggling activities by contacting the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855  or the nearest Customs office. The identities of informants will be kept confidential,” he said.

Wan Jamal also said that they will step up security at three Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex entry points believed to be the focus of smugglers.

This, he said, is because the illegal jetties along Sungai Golok will be demolished soon.

"We are prepared for all possibilities and will step up inspections at three ICQS entry points, namely Tumpat, Rantau Panjang and Jeli,” he said.

Wan Jamal said the department does not rule out the possibility that smugglers will use the ICQS to smuggle their goods into the country, adding that they fully support the state government's decision to tear down illegal jetties to curb smuggling activities.

"I hope that, through this approach, tax collection will also increase when they start bringing in goods through legal channels,” he said.

Yesterday, Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat was quoted as saying that the Kelantan Land and Minerals Office had identified 153 illegal jetties on state government-owned land for demolition.

He said the demolition operation would be jointly conducted with local authorities after issuing a warning notice to users one month in advance.

-- BERNAMA