RM2.4bil in revenue lost from smuggling of ciggies and liquor

Be our eyes and ears: Matrang (centre) and Pahang’s director of Customs Datuk Ramli Ismail (right) talking to a restaurant operator in Kuantan about Ops Pacak.

KUANTAN: The country has lost nearly RM1.9bil due to the smuggling of cigarettes and another RM500mil due to the smuggling of liquor annually, Royal Malaysian Customs (Enforce­ment and Compliance) deputy director Datuk Matrang Suhaili said.

He said the smuggling activities were not only detrimental to the country but had also paved the way for syndicates to make the country a centre for contraband cigarettes.