[UPDATED] Customs seizes RM25.7mil worth of contraband cigarettes, liquor

KUALA LUMPUR: The Customs Department seized more than RM25.7 million worth of contraband cigarettes and liquor in a series of enforcement operations between July and August.

The seizures involved more than 26.6 million cigarettes and over 24,000 litres of liquor, with 445 cases recorded nationwide under the department's Ops A.S.A.P II alone.

Customs assistant director-general (Enforcement) Raizam Setapa @ Mustapha said the operations targeted the smuggling, storage and sale of cigarettes and liquor suspected to be non-customs-paid goods.

She said the total estimated value of goods seized, including duties and taxes, amounted to RM25,767,428.50.

"Under Ops A.S.A.P II, Customs enforcement divisions nationwide were instructed to conduct a special operation focusing on contraband cigarettes and liquor being sold at retail outlets.

"The operation resulted in the seizure of 26,316,754 cigarettes and 22,184.47 litres of liquor, with an estimated total value, including duties and taxes, of RM25.41 million," she said in a statement today.

She said a total of 445 cases involving contraband cigarettes and liquor were recorded nationwide, all of which remain under investigation.

Raizam explained that enforcement officers found that traders attempted to evade detection by hiding the goods at concealed locations or inside vehicles parked outside their business premises.

"The contraband cigarettes and liquor were also sold at prices below prevailing market rates," she said.

Meanwhile, two separate raids in Kuala Lumpur under Ops Keras 1 and Ops Keras 2 resulted in four arrests and seizures worth more than RM359,000, including duties and taxes.

"In the first operation on July 27, Selangor Customs enforcement officers, together with the Inland Revenue Board and the Finance Ministry's special task force, raided two outlets operated by foreign nationals around Jalan Imbi.

"Officers found 307,080 cigarettes and 1,255.205 litres of liquor suspected to be non-customs-paid goods," she said.

Raizam added that the cigarettes were valued at RM254,627.12, including duties and taxes, while the liquor was valued at RM42,128.53.

"One person was detained to facilitate investigations.

"In Ops Keras 2 on Aug 20, enforcement teams raided four outlets and a lorry around Jalan Kuchai Maju.

"The operation involved Customs enforcement units from Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the department's Trade Fraud Investigation Unit, alongside the Inland Revenue Board and the Finance Ministry's special task force," she said adding that officers seized 14,880 cigarettes and 798.385 litres of liquor found at the outlets and inside a lorry parked behind one of the premises.

She said the cigarettes were valued at RM24,028.40, including duties and taxes, while the liquor was valued at RM38,559.50. Three people were detained for further investigation.

Raizam said the cases were being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.

Upon conviction, offenders can be fined between 10 and 20 times the value of the goods, subject to statutory minimum and maximum amounts, jailed for between six months and five years, or both.

She urged the public to provide information on smuggling activities, saying such offences not only caused revenue leakages but also posed a threat to national security and public wellbeing.