Customs Foils Smuggling Operations, Seizes Contraband Worth RM25.77 Million

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 23 – The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) intercepted contraband cigarette and liquor smuggling operations nationwide between July and August, seizing illicit goods valued at RM25.77 million, inclusive of unpaid duties and taxes.

Customs Assistant Director-General (Enforcement) Raizam Setapa confirmed that the massive seizures were executed through three targeted operations: Ops Keras 1, Ops Keras 2, and the nationwide Ops A.S.A.P II.

Under Ops Keras 1 on July 27, enforcement officers from Selangor JKDM, working alongside the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) Special Task Force, raided two commercial premises along Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur.

“Upon inspection, we found 307,080 sticks of cigarettes and 1,255.205 litres of liquor of various brands believed to be undeclared being sold and kept at the outlets, with the value including duties and taxes totalling RM296,755,” Raizam stated, adding that one individual was detained to assist in ongoing investigations.

A subsequent joint operation, Ops Keras 2, executed on Aug 20, targeted four premises and a lorry along Jalan Kuchai Maju, Kuala Lumpur. Teams from the Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and KLIA enforcement divisions, alongside the Putrajaya Trade Fraud Investigation Unit, IRB, and MOF, seized 14,880 cigarette sticks and 798.385 liters of illicit liquor worth RM62,587.90, leading to three arrests.

Concurrently, nationwide operations under Ops A.S.A.P II yielded 445 individual enforcement cases, resulting in the confiscation of 26.31 million cigarette sticks and 22,184.47 liters of contraband liquor valued at RM25.40 million inclusive of duties and taxes.

Raizam revealed that syndicates attempted to evade detection by hiding contraband in secluded areas or parked vehicles outside retail premises before distributing the goods below market prices.

All cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a minimum fine of 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000 (whichever is greater), up to 20 times the value or RM500,000, imprisonment between six months and five years, or both upon conviction.

Members of the public with information on smuggling activities are encouraged to contact the Customs toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-8855 or visit the nearest Customs office.

–NMT