ISKANDAR PUTERI: More than RM6mil worth of illegal cigarettes, alcohol and drugs were seized by the Johor Customs Department in four separate raids.
Johor Customs Department director Misbahudin Parmin said the raids were conducted at Klang, Pasir Gudang and Johor Baru between March 3 and March 20.
“Following a tip-off, the Johor Customs Department had, on March 3, seized eight containers containing various alcoholic beverages at the Klang Port in Selangor.
“The goods were declared as spare parts for machines when they actually contained untaxed alcohol.
“A total of RM922,000 worth of alcohol with unpaid duties amounting to RM4.165mil, was seized,” he told reporters at the Sungai Pulai Customs Enforcement Complex here yesterday.
Misbahudin said the department had also foiled attempts to smuggle out RM1.27mil worth of cigarettes in two raids in Pasir Gudang.
“Following checks on a container at the Pasir Gudang Port on March 6, we found RM67,000 worth of illegal cigarettes with RM402,000 in unpaid duties.
The items were declared as plastic goods, but when inspected, contained cigarettes.
“In a separate case on March 15, we also raided a warehouse at the Pasir Gudang duty-free zone area, where we seized another RM115,000 worth of cigarettes with unpaid duties amounting to RM687,000.
He noted that company representatives from both the cases, who are in their 30s and 40s, were arrested before later being released on bail.
“We believe that the cigarettes are from China, and in such cases, normally, the cigarettes are sent to Australia,” he said.
In another case, he said seven individuals were caught red-handed while they were high on drugs at a massage centre at an apartment building in Wadi Hana, Johor Baru.
“We received a tip-off on drug smuggling activities going on at three units at the apartment.
“When we raided the units, we found out the premises were being used as a massage centre.
“Seven individuals, including a person believed to be the operator of the centre, were also found to be high on drugs.
“We also found 5.69g of methamphetamine and three Erimin 5 pills at three units,” he said.
He said the suspects included three local men, three foreign men and one female foreigner, whose ages range between 30 and 50.
The seven suspects have been charged at the Johor Baru Magistrate Court, he said.
