Customs Seizes Over RM11 Mln In Contraband Cigarettes, Liquor
PETALING JAYA, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) recently foiled two separate syndicates involved in distributing contraband white cigarettes and liquor following raids in Shah Alam and Seri Kembangan, with total seizures, including taxes, valued at more than RM11 million.
Kuala Lumpur Customs Department director Wan Norizan Wan Daud said the first raid, conducted on Sept 29, uncovered a storage and supply operation for contraband white cigarettes at a warehouse in Jalan Subang Permai, Shah Alam.
The operation led to the seizure of 11.6 million sticks of white cigarettes of various imported brands suspected to be uncustomed, valued at around RM2.32 million, with tax and duty estimated at RM7.89 million.
“A local man working as the warehouse caretaker was detained to assist in the investigation,” she told a media conference at Kompleks Kastam WPKL in Kelana Jaya here today.
She said the syndicate’s modus operandi was to store and distribute the cigarettes in bulk at privately rented warehouses without markings to avoid detection.
In a separate raid on Aug 19, Wan Norizan said Customs uncovered a contraband liquor distribution operation at a private warehouse in Taman Prima Tropika, Seri Kembangan, where officers seized 5,787 litres of imported liquor suspected to be uncustomed, with total value and taxes estimated at RM921,769.
Three foreign men were arrested, and a five-tonne lorry believed to have been used for transportation was seized.
“The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for possession of prohibited or uncustomed goods. The syndicate is believed to have repacked and supplied the liquor in bulk to industrial and construction areas,” she said.
She urged the public to provide information to help combat smuggling activities involving cigarettes, liquor, fireworks, drugs, vehicles, and other controlled goods by channelling information to the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855, adding that informants’ identities will be kept confidential.
Separately, Wan Norizan said the department also seized 53 containers of steel and aluminium scrap worth RM7.9 million imported without valid permits in a joint operation at Port Klang from Aug 28 to Sept 5, known as ‘Operation Besiport’.
The operation involved the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and SIRIM Berhad at North Port and West Port, and inspections found 35 containers of steel structures for construction and 18 containers of aluminium and metal scrap, with a total weight of 956,686 kilogrammes.
“All containers were owned by the same company. The estimated value of the seized goods is RM7.93 million, with import duties and taxes of RM1,098,888,” she added.
Wan Norizan said steel structures require a Certificate of Approval (COA) from CIDB, while metal and aluminium scrap require approval from SIRIM, adding that the importer is suspected of making false declarations to bypass licensing requirements.
No arrests have been made, and the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.
Kuala Lumpur CIDB director Datuk Dr Gerald Sundaraj, at the same press conference, said importing construction steel without approval poses quality and safety risks, warning that substandard materials could endanger public safety if used in construction projects.
-- BERNAMA
