Sibu Customs Seizes 8.3 Mln Cigarettes, Liquor In Raid

SIBU, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has seized 8.33 million sticks of cigarettes and 190.08 litres of liquor without duty in a raid on a house in Brooke Drive here.

Sarawak Customs director Datuk Norizan Yahya said its Sibu enforcement branch’s land operations unit raided the premises, used as a storage location for the items, on Oct 10.

“The seized cigarettes and liquor are estimated to be worth RM750,840, while the total duties and taxes involved are estimated at RM5,575,667, bringing the total value of the seizure, including taxes, to RM6,326,508,” he told a press conference here today.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for storing or possessing prohibited goods without permission.

If convicted, offenders may be fined no less than 10 times the amount of customs duty or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, or face imprisonment of no less than six months and not more than five years, or both.

The department also urged the public to channel information on smuggling activities by contacting the Customs Toll-Free Line at 1-800-88-8855 or any nearest customs office. The identity of informants will be kept confidential.

-- BERNAMA