Foiled attempt: Mohamad Hafiz (left) showing the lorry used to distribute the illegal cigarettes at the press meet in Seremban. — Bernama
SEREMBAN: Illicit cigarettes and contraband beer worth RM1.74mil inclusive of unpaid duties were seized by the Customs Department in separate operations in Pahang and Negri Sembilan.
State Customs director Mohammad Hafiz Ishak said that in the first raid on Sept 9, his officers seized 11,700 cartons containing 2.35 million smuggled white cigarettes from a bonded lorry in Gebeng, Pahang.
“My men had stopped a lorry driven by a local man and, upon inspection, found the cigarettes, which are believed to have been smuggled in from China.
“The cigarettes and unpaid duties alone totalled some RM1.56mil while the lorry was estimated to be worth some RM10,000,” he said, adding that the lorry driver was subsequently detained.
Mohammad Hafiz said a syndicate was believed to have smuggled the cigarettes into the country as there was a high demand from Chinese nationals working here.
The cigarettes are also popular as they are sold at a lower price.
He said the syndicate members had also tried to hoodwink the authorities by using fake registration plates for the lorry.
In the second operation carried out on the same day, Customs officers seized 20,809 cans of beer at a godown in the Nilai industrial area.
“Checks carried out by my men showed that the relevant duties on the beers had not been paid.
“Apart from the contraband, we also seized a van worth some RM40,000 during the operation,” he said, adding that four suspects, including a Myanmar national, were also detained.
Mohammad Hafiz said the seized beers were worth some RM40,260, and the unpaid duties totalled around RM125,550.
Both cases were being probed under Section 135(1)(d) and (e) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 74(1)(a) of the Excise Act 1976.
Those convicted under both laws can be fined between 10 and 20 times the value of the goods or between RM100,000 and RM500,000, whichever is higher, or jailed between six months and two years or both.
“I would also like to appeal to the public to help Customs combat such activities, as this not only causes the country to lose revenue but is also a threat to national security and the people’s well-being,” he said.
The public, he said, could call the Customs toll-free line at 1800 88 8855 to report such matters.
