JOHOR BARU: Police have busted an alcohol smuggling syndicate with the arrest of a 39-year-old premises caretaker.
State police chief Comm M. Kumar said they raided a premises that was used to store contraband beer and liquor in Taman Megah Ria, Masai at around 7.30pm on Wednesday (July 10).
“We found 70 cartons of beer and alcohol of various brands worth about RM60,324 stored in the premises.
“The suspect was arrested to aid in investigation under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967,” he said in a statement on Saturday (July 13).
The offence is punishable with a minimum fine of 10 times the seized value or RM100,000 (whichever is higher) and a maximum fine of 20 times the seized value or RM500,000, or a jail term of six months to five years, or both upon conviction.
The case was also investigated under Section 76 of the Excise Act 1976 for selling contraband liquor, which carries a fine of not more than RM50,000 upon conviction.
Comm Kumar said in a separate case on Friday (July 12), two men aged 23 and 29 were arrested at Jalan Persiaran Aliff Harmoni Utama, Tampoi here.
“They were in a lorry at around 9.30pm and it was stopped for an inspection.
“The police team found 105 boxes of contraband cigarettes of various brands in the five-tonne vehicle,” he said, adding that the case was also investigated under the Customs Act 1967.
Comm Kumar added that continuous enforcement and monitoring would be carried out to counter contraband activities and the sales of untaxed alcohol.
