JOHOR BARU: Johor Customs ended 2002 with a bang when it foiled an attempt to smuggle in firecrackers, fireworks and cigarettes worth some RM2mil.
The department's deputy director-general (prevention) Datuk Zaleha Hamzah said the contraband items were found in three containers at the Pasir Gudang port on Dec 26.
She said the firecrackers and fireworks were found in two containers, while the third container contained cigarettes.
“There were a total of 2,557 boxes of assorted fireworks and firecrackers, and 12,700kg of cigarettes.
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CONTRABAND ITEMS: Zaleha holding up a packet of firecrackers during the press conference in Johor Baru Wednesday, as other Customs Department officers look on. |
“The firecrackers and fireworks are worth RM1mil with a total tax due of RM650,000, while the cigarettes were worth RM1mil with a total tax due of RM3.7mil,” she told a press conference yesterday.
Zaleha said the smugglers had declared the fireworks and firecrackers as non-taxable rubber footballs and assorted pictures, which only carry a 10% sales tax.
However, only a small amount of the declared goods were found in the containers.
“The cigarettes were declared as computer casings and computer keyboards which are non-taxable goods, but my officers did not find any of these goods in the container.
“The goods were believed to have been imported from China and according to import information were imported by three Johor-based companies,” she said.
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