AI luggage scanners to help fight smuggling

PUTRAJAYA: Smuggling will become even harder once artificial intelligence-enabled luggage scanners are placed at all entry points into the country.

At least 40 of these AI-enabled scanner units will be placed at strategic locations in several states to help detect and prevent smuggling.

Customs Department assistant director-general (enforcement) Ribuan Abdullah (pic) said these scanners would be placed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as well as in Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Penang, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

He explained that the AI technology would assist his personnel in analysing images taken during the scanning process which could help in detecting smuggled items.

He said the department began using scanners which were equipped with AI at the end of last year at KLIA.

“These scanners have shown good results and we have made several arrests and seizures, especially on drug smuggling attempts, at KLIA because of it,” he told reporters at the Customs Department headquarters here yesterday.

He said these scanners were capable of analysing images and colours more clearly.

“We are also looking at acquiring more cargo scanners which are equipped with drive through multi-view dual energy systems.

“These high-powered scanners which will be placed at our country’s entry and exit points, like Port Klang, will also help us curb smuggling of drugs and other illicit items,” he said, adding that as of April this year, his department had seized a total of 585.72kg of drugs detected with scanners.

Ribuan said the department would also be acquiring 20 more drug detecting dogs in June to add to the 20 already being used.

“In the first quarter of this year, we have detected 1,856 attempted smuggling and evasion of Customs duties with the seizure of RM350.18mil worth of drugs, cigarettes, vehicles, alcohol, textiles and other commodities.

“We recorded a 181.72% increase in seizures during this quarter when compared to the RM124.3mil of seizures made during the same period last year,” he said, adding that they seized 385 vehicles worth RM27.55mil.

He said that the vehicles that were seized were mostly luxury vehicles such as Toyata Vellfires, Toyota Alphards and various Mercedes Benz models.

“Surprisingly, now that the Yamaha RX-Z motorcycle has gained more popularity, we are seeing more of these bikes being seized as they are brought over illegally from neighbouring countries without permits.

“We believe these motorcycles are brought in either by boat via Sungai Golok or through lorries,” he said, adding that the cases involving smuggling these motorcycles increased when the market value for these motorcycles went up to about RM15,000 for a used one.

Ribuan said they also opened 711 cases involving the smuggling of 125 million contraband cigarettes worth over RM104.31mil.

“We also seized 847.41kg of drugs worth RM29.56mil and 2.81million litres of alcohol worth RM41.7mil,” he said, adding that they also seized RM3.85mil worth of textiles.