KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Customs Department has seized over 6.2 million white cigarette sticks, valued at nearly RM4.2mil, in two separate operations last week.
The department's director, Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long, said that the first seizure occurred on Nov 4 when Customs, in collaboration with the Central Zone Customs Unit II (Selangor), intercepted a container at West Port, Port Klang, Selangor.
The container held six million white cigarette sticks, with an estimated value of more than RM4mil.
He explained that the syndicate had falsely declared the cargo as merchandise in the shipping documents (Bill of Lading), with Port Klang listed as the Port of Discharge, using the cargo delivery service method.
"The cigarettes seized in this first case are believed to have originated in Cambodia and were transported by sea before transiting at West Port, Port Klang," he said.
"It is suspected that these cigarettes were imported from Sri Lanka, as such products are not available in our local market," he added during a press conference at the Kelantan Customs Enforcement branch on Thursday (Nov 14).
Wan Jamal Abdul Salam noted that the white cigarettes lacked the necessary importation documents to confirm that tax or duty had been paid. He mentioned that the case is still under investigation, and no arrests have been made so far.
In a separate seizure on November 10, Customs intercepted three vans around 11.30am in various areas of Kota Baru, discovering 254,800 cigarette sticks valued at RM172,352.40.
He clarified that the cigarettes in this case were suspected to have been transported by road, using a lorry, and were intended for the east coast market, particularly in Kelantan. The cigarettes were found to bear counterfeit tax stamps. Three local men, aged between 30 and 47, were arrested to assist with the investigation. – Bernama
