ISKANDAR PUTERI: A counterfeit liquor processing syndicate has been dismantled with the arrest of nine foreigners and the seizure of more than RM300,000 worth of fake alcohol.
Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm M. Kumarasan said the suspects, all from Myanmar, were apprehended during raids on two factories in Taman Industri Jaya and Taman Industri Johor Baru Perdana between Feb 7 and 9.
"We raided the first factory on Feb 7 and arrested four suspects, believed to be workers for the syndicate. Interrogation of the suspects led to the second raid, where five more individuals were arrested at another factory," he said on Monday (Feb 17), adding that the suspects are aged between 21 and 43.
ACP Kumarasan said items seized from the first raid included 122 boxes and 45 bottles of various liquor brands, nine barrels containing liquid believed to be counterfeit alcohol and nine alcohol processing machines.
"We confiscated RM317,640 worth of goods, including the counterfeit alcohol, from the first factory. At the second factory, we seized RM12,350 worth of items, including 438 boxes of empty liquor bottles, five barrels of alcohol, 37 boxes of bottle caps, and 47 sets of empty liquor boxes.
"We are still investigating the contents of the fake alcohol," he added.
The four Myanmar men arrested in the first raid were remanded for 14 days starting Feb 8, while the five arrested in the second raid were remanded for the same period starting Feb 10.
The case is being investigated under Section 116C and Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, Section 76 of the Excise Act 1976, Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and Section 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, ACP Kumarasan said the General Operations Force Battalion 5 from Simpang Renggam seized 530 boxes of untaxed liquor worth RM79,500 in Nusa Bestari on Feb 12.
"Seven local men, aged 26 to 46, were arrested, four of whom had prior criminal and drug-related records. They were all remanded for 12 days starting Feb 13," he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967.
