SEPANG: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department says it seized 5.82 million contraband cigarettes worth RM4.48mil in five operations in September and October.
Customs Central Zone assistant director-general Norlela Ismail said three of the operations took place in the Free Commercial Zone (FCZ) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), while the other two operations were conducted at West Port and a warehouse in Selat Klang Utama, Port Klang, Selangor.
She said the total value of the seizures amounted to RM576,448, with an estimated after-duty value of RM3.89mil.
Norlela said the operation in West Port on Sept 27, involving a container, resulted in the seizure of 4.16 million cigarettes, believed to be intended for import into the country. Additionally, 960,000 cigarettes were seized from a warehouse on Oct 16.
"During the warehouse operation, we detained a 38-year-old local man for investigation.
"The seized cigarettes were believed to have been stored temporarily at the warehouse before being sent to various locations across Peninsular Malaysia using a lorry transport company," she told a press conference here on Wednesday (Nov 13).
Norlela said that on Oct 2 and 7, Customs officers conducted inspections on three shipments at the Cargo Terminal Operator (CTO) in KLIA, resulting in the seizure of 752,200 cigarettes, believed to be intended for export to Oceania and Europe.
"The modus operandi involved declaring the items on the invoices as chopping boards, cardboard boxes, shopping bags and textiles, and using cargo delivery services for shipment.
"The contraband goods were being smuggled out along with packages containing old newspapers and blankets in an attempt to avoid detection by authorities," she said.
She added that the case at Port Klang is being investigated under Regulation 30(1) of the Free Zone Act 1990, while investigations of the seizures at KLIA are being carried out under Sections 135(1)(a) and 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, as well as Section 74(1)(a) of the Excise Act 1976.
Norlela also welcomed public cooperation to assist Customs in curbing smuggling, particularly involving cigarettes, alcohol, fireworks, drugs and vehicles. – Bernama
