JOHOR BARU: Police have busted a syndicate involved in processing and distributing counterfeit liquor for liquor shops in Johor Baru district.
Johor Baru North (JBU) OCPD Asst Comm Balveer Singh said the activities were crippled during a joint-operation by the Southern Region 2 Marine and JBU police.
He said the operation was conducted at 3pm on Monday (Sept 2) and at 4.30pm Tuesday (Sept 3) where two single-storey factories were raided.
"The first raid took place at the factory in Taman Johor which has been turned into a processing place for the liquor," ACP Balveer said in a press conference at the Tampoi police station here.
He said a 50-year old local man was detained in the raid together with 564 boxes of the counterfeit liquors and related equipment used to process the liquor worth RM850,000.
ACP Balveer said two local men aged 44 and 47 years were apprehended in the second raid at a factory in Taman Kempas Utama.
He said the factory was used to store the liquor before being distributed to shops selling liquor in the Johor Baru district.
"We seized a three-tonne lorry believed to be used to transport the liquor, five cars and other related items worth RM400,000," added ACP Balveer.
He said one of the suspects detained in the second raid at the factory in Taman Kempas Utama has previous criminal offences and all suspects tested negative for drugs.
"The syndicate has been operating for the past six months and we are still investigating whether they have knowledge in chemistry to process the liquor," said ACP Balveer.
He said police are also looking for two local men, aged 48 and 50, on the police wanted list to assist with the investigation.
ACP Balveer said the 50-year-old suspect has been remanded from Sept 3 until Sept 9, and police will apply for remand for the two suspects aged 44 and 47 today.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 76bof the Excise Act 1976.
