Kuala lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has successfully dismantled two syndicates involved in the illicit liquor trade and the smuggling of chewing tobacco, recovering uncustomed goods valued at RM2.57 million during a recent special operation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Noraidah Ishak, acting as the JKDM KL director, stated that two foreign men were apprehended during Ops Suling, which took place between May 11 and May 23. On May 20, the operations team targeted two warehouses located on Jalan Wangsa Utama, Taman Wangsa Permai, seizing 4,987 litres of whisky marked with counterfeit tax stamps.
Noraidah reported that the team discovered equipment allegedly used in the production and bottling of liquor, including drums with a chemical mixture suspected to be ethanol, rolls of counterfeit customs tax stamps, packaging equipment, bottle-capping machines, and fake labels. The seizure was valued at RM278,531, with duties and taxes totaling RM672,669, culminating in a total value of RM951,200. The two arrested foreign nationals are currently in remand for further investigation.
The syndicate reportedly operated out of warehouses in isolated areas, away from residential neighborhoods, for the processing and bottling of counterfeit liquor. The investigation is ongoing under Section 74(1)(f) of the Excise Act 1976.
In a related incident on May 14, the department intercepted a 20-foot container from a South Asian country at 9 pm. Inspections revealed 5,449kg of suspected duty-unpaid chewing tobacco products, with the goods valued at RM944,944 and duties and taxes amounting to RM677,551.
The total seizure value in this case is estimated at RM1,622,495. The syndicate's strategy involved importing prohibited goods in containers without a valid import license. This case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for allegedly importing prohibited goods without the necessary import license.
Noraidah called on the public to assist in combating smuggling activities by providing information through the Customs toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-8855 or by contacting the nearest customs office. She assured that the identity of all informants will be kept confidential.