Customs seizes 147 micro-mobility vehicles worth RM708,000

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu Customs Department (JKDM) has seized 147 units of micro-mobility vehicles worth over RM708,000, inclusive of tax, after raiding two premises here on May 23.

JKDM director Mohd Nadzri Ariffin said the raids were carried out following information that the premises were in possession of prohibited goods, especially micro-mobility vehicles such as moped bike, electric bicycles and electrically-powered personal mobility device.

"Initial investigations revealed that the documents produced by the premises for the purchase and import of the products had reasonable grounds for us to believe that these goods were smuggled into the country,” he told reporters here yesterday.

He added that during the raid at the first location, 130 units micro-mobility vehicles worth RM346,200 with an unpaid tax value of RM252,726 were seized while during the second raid, 17 units of similar vehicles worth RM64,088 and unpaid tax valued at RM45,068 were seized, Bernama reported.

Mohd Nadzri said the syndicate did not bring in the vehicles but brought the vehicle parts and components separately from China through Port Klang and later installed the parts to form the vehicle units at their warehouse before distributing them throughout the country.

The syndicate is believed to have falsely declared the products imported and produced permits that were used for previous shipments, including documents used in 2021 to convince their clients. The import of electrical vehicles must get the approval of Sirim and the Transport Ministry as such vehicles are used on the road.

"However, electric bicycles have not been approved for use on roads in the country," he said.Mohd Nadzri added that the owners of both premises, aged 39 and 37, were also detained to assist investigations and later released on Customs Department bail.