BUTTERWORTH: The Customs Department seized 361,236 cans of beer worth almost RM1mil with unpaid duties of over RM6mil just before Chinese New Year here.
The department's Penang director Roselan Ramli said the seizures were made following three separate operations in Port Klang, Selangor where it was found that the contents of the containers were falsely declared.
"The first seizure at 11am on Jan 31 was done following a check on two containers declared to contain aluminium flakes but later found to be containing 106,560 cans of beer worth RM263,340 with duties worth RM1.71mil,” said Roselan.
He added that the second operation at 12.45pm on the same day found four containers declared as copper alloy but containing 202,356 cans of beer worth RM561,541.20 with duties worth RM3.45mil.
"The third operation at 11.30am on Feb 7 found a container declared as a cabin turned out to be 52,320 cans of beer worth RM144,000 with duties worth RM1mil," he said during a press conference at the department's enforcement store in Bagan Jermal here Thursday (Feb 22).
Roselan added that the containers from an east Asian country were handled by separate companies and a suspect in his 30s has since been detained.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 and Excise Act 1976.
