KLANG: The Customs Department has seized 17,000 airsoft pistols which were brought into the country without proper permits.
The pistols were worth at least RM4.4mil.
According to the Department’s assistant director general (central zone) Norlela Ismail, they initially detected the container at West Port on Feb 14.
"We checked the container which was declared to be carrying airsoft pistols that originated from Hong Kong.
"The importer was supposed to apply for permits with the Police to bring in the airsoft pistols but none of these documents were found," she said.
She said checks revealed the guns were worth RM1.8mil with RM2.6mil worth of duties.
Airsoft guns were replica guns which shoot spherical projectiles.
These projectiles were propelled either by a spring loaded air pump or by a gas canister.
Meanwhile, Norlela said they also seized RM694,000 worth of fireworks following five raids between Feb 5 and Feb 8.
"We raided warehouses at Masjid Tanah in Melaka, Trong in Perak, and Klang and seized 2,270 boxes of fireworks.
"Based on our checks, these fireworks seized did not comply with the regulations and did not have import permits," she said, adding that two warehouse owners were arrested during one of the raids at Trong, Perak.
On the other hand, Norlela said they also seized 644 smuggled android televisions worth RM700,000.
"Our personnel detected a container at North Port on Feb 1 which was declared to be carrying marble.
"When the container was scanned, the contents did not match what was initially declared," she said, adding that officers opened the container and found 644 android televisions which had yet to receive Sirim certification.
She said the televisions were worth RM500,000 with RM200,000 in unpaid duties.
In another unrelated case, Norlela said they also seized RM400,000 worth of ceiling fans which did not have proper permits.
"We checked a container at North Port on Feb 1 and found 1,990 fans.
"Checks revealed that the fans did not have permits from the Energy Commission," she said.
