Kuala lumpur: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) arrested five men and seized suspected smuggled goods from China worth RM12.87 million in raids on three premises in Kuala Lumpur and Klang, Selangor on August 5.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA) Deputy Director (Movement/Operations) Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim stated that three locals and two foreigners, in their 20s and 30s, believed to be working at the premises were arrested under Ops Taring Alpha 2 and Ops Taring Alpha 5. Investigations are ongoing to identify the entire supply chain, the source of entry of the goods, and other parties suspected of being involved in the smuggling activity. The goods are alleged to have entered the country through ports using false declarations to evade inspection. The cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, Section 102(1)(c) of the Trademarks Act 2019, and Section 14 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1976.
Under Ops Taring Alpha 2 in Kuala Lumpur, police seized 2,112 cans and 3,696 bottles of alcoholic beverages of various brands worth approximately RM2.57 million, 4,092 bottles of Zhongpi Craft Beer worth RM2.07 million, and 52,339 packets, boxes, and bottles of various food and beverage products from China worth approximately RM456,000, totaling RM5.1 million.
In Klang, under Ops Taring Alpha 5, police seized 10 30-litre jars, 10 15-litre jars, and 252 500-millilitre bottles of alcoholic beverages from China worth approximately RM2.17 million. They also confiscated 245 cartons of Chinese white cigarettes valued at RM301,840, 1,800 helmets worth RM1.8 million, 780 sets of phone accessories valued at RM936,000, beauty products worth RM2.29 million, and 260 potted bonsai plants of various sizes and types worth RM260,000, totaling RM7.7 million.
In a related development, the JKDNKA, through the Wildlife Crime Bureau (WCB)/Special Intelligence Investigation (PSK) Branch, recorded 242 raids nationwide from January 1 to August 21. These raids resulted in the arrest of 416 individuals for various offences, including smuggling of non-duty-paid goods, leakages of controlled and subsidised goods, wildlife smuggling, and activities involving e-waste. The total value of seizures during the period was estimated at RM315.15 million.