Selangor: The Selangor Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has foiled attempts to smuggle various commercial goods and commodities by seizing 63 containers worth RM42.99 million, including duties and taxes, in four separate raids here.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Selangor Customs director Noraidah Ishak stated that the largest seizure involved four 40-foot containers containing 48.78 million sticks of white cigarettes worth RM37.56 million, with duties and taxes amounting to RM33.65 million. The transshipment containers, originating from an Asian country, were inspected on June 3 and 10, revealing the company's failure to declare the goods in the manifest to evade detection.
Firm action was also taken in the second-largest case, involving the detention of 57 containers carrying 1,190 tonnes of scrap metal and plastic valued at RM4.96 million, including duties and taxes of RM827,789. Noraidah elaborated that the seizure involved 13 containers with 351.18 metric tonnes of scrap metal worth RM1.79 million, and 44 containers with 841.55 metric tonnes of scrap plastic worth RM2.34 million, suspected of lacking valid import permits from the Malaysian Industrial Standards and Research Institute.
The modus operandi in this case involved making false declarations in Customs Form No. 1, describing the goods as moulds, ABA flakes, aluminium material, PS flakes, copper concentrate, and crushed PP plastic. Additionally, Selangor Customs seized 1,578.43 litres of various alcoholic beverages worth RM409,917, including duties and taxes amounting to RM160,037, concealed behind used vehicle spare parts to avoid inspection.
In the fourth case, the authorities seized a container carrying 1,240 units of sex toys worth RM52,500, falsely declared as chairs, waist bags, drinking bottles, and underwear. Noraidah indicated that the goods were classified as absolutely prohibited items brought in from an Asian country, detected during a physical inspection at North Port by enforcement personnel.
All cases involving alcoholic beverages, sex toys, and scrap metal and plastic are under investigation under Sections 135(1)(a) and 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967. The cigarette case is being investigated under Section 52(1) of the same Act. Further investigations are ongoing to identify the masterminds, forwarding agents, and actual owners of all the containers involved before legal action is taken.
Noraidah urged the public to provide information on smuggling activities via the Customs toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-8855 or by visiting any nearby JKDM office, assuring that informants' identities would be kept strictly confidential.