KOTA KINABALU: Smuggled beer worth over RM1.13mil has been seized from Sepanggar Port in a series of raids.
The contraband was confiscated in three operations on Aug 11, Tuesday (Aug 16) and Wednesday (Aug 17).
Royal Malaysia Customs Sabah zone assistant director-general Cheong Yu Min said in the Aug 11 incident, officials noticed something amiss when a container was being scanned at around 9.45am.
“Upon inspection, we found 18,236 litres of suspected untaxed alcohol worth around RM284,139.95,” he told a press conference here on Friday (Aug 19).
He said the subsequent confiscations were made after similar checks.
Two containers filled with almost RM595,000 worth of alcohol were checked at 9.05am on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, 16,632 litres of alcohol worth around RM257,863 were found in a container at 11.10am.
“The total value of seizures from these four containers is estimated to be around RM1,136,413,” Cheong said.
He said the containers' contents were falsely declared to avoid detection, and investigations are being conducted under the Customs Act 1967.
“The public is urged to continue being our eyes and ears and to assist enforcement officials in combating the smuggling of goods such as cigarettes, alcohol, fireworks, drugs, vehicles, and others,” Cheong said, while adding that the identities of informants will be kept confidential.
Those with information can contact the Customs Department toll-free number at 1-800-88-8855 or go to any of its offices.
