Large haul: Norlela (second from right) showing suitcases filled with the seized chewing tobacco during a press conference in Sepang. — Bernama
SEPANG: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Unit III (LTAKL) Central Zone thwarted attempts to smuggle approximately 5,000kg of chewing tobacco, involving duty worth over RM409,000, in three cases between May and early June this year.
Customs Central Zone assistant director-general Norlela Ismail said that two of the cases occurred at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 and the other in the Free Commercial Zone (FCZ) at KLIA.
The Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023, Item 66, Schedule 2, Entry 3 lists chewing tobacco as a prohibited item.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Norlela said that on May 29, the Enforcement Division Unit III (LTAKL) Central Zone detained and seized 2,700kg of chewing tobacco meant for import without a valid import permit in the FCZ at KLIA, Bernama reported.
“The modus operandi involved declaring the cargo as ‘console cargo’ with a fake importer’s name. After the cargo was detained, neither the party or agent nor the importer came forward to claim the goods and submit the import documents,” she said.
For the second case on June 3 at KLIA Terminal 1, Norlela said two foreign men, aged 23 and 25, arriving from a South Asian country, were detained for smuggling 57.9kg of chewing tobacco.
She said that two checked-in bags contained the tobacco, but the suspects failed to present a valid permit, raising suspicions that they were part of a group.
“This suspicion is based on the discovery of 88 other bags left on the baggage carousel after the two men were detained.
“Checks revealed all the bags arrived on the same flight as the duo, and it is believed that other syndicate members intentionally left the 88 bags after their activities were uncovered,” she said, adding that 2,250kg of chewing tobacco were found in those bags.
In the third case on June 7, Norlela said two foreign men, aged 33 and 55, arriving from a South Asian country, were detained for the same offence, with 60kg of chewing tobacco seized.
According to her, these individuals frequently entered Malaysia and stayed for short periods, with return tickets to theair home country.
The case in the FCZ at KLIA is being investigated under Regulation 30(1) of the Free Zone Regulations 1991, while the two cases at KLIA Terminal 1 are being investigated under Section 135(1)(f) of the Customs Act 1967.
In a separate case, Norlela said JKDM detained a 67-year-old American man at KLIA Terminal 1 on June 4 for smuggling 2.245kg of cocaine worth RM449,000.
“The man had flown from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and transited in Doha, Qatar, before arriving in Malaysia.
The syndicate had recruited the man to carry a suitcase filled with drugs to a designated destination, and he has been remanded until June 18,” she said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
