Perak Customs Department Director Dr.Mohamad Saprin (right) showing the label sticker which stated tax paid verification on the contraband cigarettes.
IPOH: The Perak Customs Department has seized a total of RM1mil worth of contraband cigarettes from an empty house in Teluk Intan.
Department director Dr Mohamad Saprin said enforcement officers monitored the house located at Taman Saujana Bakti for an hour before entering the premises on Oct 31 at about 5pm.
He said a total of 1.4mil sticks of cigarettes with various brands were seized, and a majority of the items did not have any import and excise duty stamps, and those with the stamps were fake.
“We are still investigating where the contraband cigarettes were brought in from, and who is the owner of the house where the items were found.
“We believe the cigarettes are for the distribution in the northern region, ” he told a press conference at the department’s office here.
In a separate raid, Mohamad said some 202 liquor bottles were seized from a sundry shop here, and two locals were arrested.
He said the bottles were worth about RM40,000 and did not have any excise or import duty stamps.
“The manager and owner of the shop, both in their 40s, failed to provide proof to the authorities that the liquor was brought in legally.
“We believe the bottles were brought in for the coming festive period, as each bottle is sold about 30% cheaper than the market price, ” he added.
Mohamad said both the cases would be investigated under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for smuggling.
Offenders can be fined not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times of the value of goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher, or face jail of between six months and five years, or both.
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