Kuala lumpur: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), through a joint operation with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Indonesia, is tightening border controls to combat the smuggling of subsidised goods and contraband between the two countries. Sabah JKDM director Dr. Ahmad Taufik Sulaiman revealed that 120 inspections have been conducted around the state since the Joint Task Force (JTF) operation began on July 13.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the cooperation involves sharing intelligence with Indonesian Customs, which conducts inspections in their waters to tackle smuggling activities. Dr. Ahmad Taufik highlighted significant seizures during the operation, including 9,600 sticks of kretek cigarettes and 40,000 sticks of white cigarettes, valued at RM73,859.20 including taxes, seized in the waters off Kampung Hidayat on July 29.

The modus operandi of the syndicate involves using speedboats to smuggle goods from neighboring countries before transferring them to smaller boats destined for water village areas around Tawau. On July 27, enforcement authorities also seized various subsidised controlled goods and grocery items worth RM351,598.82, including taxes, at an illegal jetty. The items included 1,100 kg of imported Super rice, 1,105 kg of packaged cooking oil, 690 kg of granulated sugar, and 50 cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas.

Following the seizure at the illegal jetty, JKDM arrested two men in their 40s believed to be the masterminds behind the smuggling activities. Additional seizures of smuggled cigarettes were made in other locations such as Kota Marudu and roadblocks along the Keningau-Kimanis-Papar road and Beluran junction.

Dr. Ahmad Taufik emphasized that smuggling not only impacts national revenue but also poses a threat to national security and public well-being. He urged the public to report smuggling activities to the Customs toll-free line, assuring that informants' identities will remain confidential.