KANGAR: The Customs Department in Perlis seized cannabis and various goods, believed to be improperly declared and without import permits, worth RM1,726,863.86, in separate operations in Padang Besar and Kuala Perlis recently.
Its director, Ismail Hashim, said the biggest seizure involved 13.207kg of cannabis worth RM1,320,700. The drugs were found in a black suitcase at the Railway Cargo Scanning lane in Padang Besar on March 9.
"An inspection found the suitcase contained a blanket and a black plastic package. Inside the plastic package were 23 transparent vacuum-sealed packets filled with dried plants suspected to be cannabis," he said in a statement on Sunday (March 23).
According to Ismail, the syndicate is believed to have left the suitcase at the scanning lane to avoid inspection. The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Besides the drugs, the department also seized 13,176kg of coolant worth RM111,428.86 and 29,660 brooms worth RM71,470. These items were seized on Feb 26 and March 7 in Padang Besar for being improperly declared.
An inspection of a lorry driven by a local man found that the coolants being transported were declared as Oil Lubricant in the Customs Form No. 1 (K1). Both types of coolant are subject to a 10% sales tax.
Meanwhile, brooms were seized after inspections of two lorries revealed that the quantity of goods exceeded the amount declared in the K1 form.
On March 6, the department also seized 4,597 motorcycle tyres worth RM223,265 in Kuala Perlis following an inspection of a customs-sealed container on a trailer. It was found that the tyres did not have the necessary import permit as required under Item 42, Part II, Fourth Schedule of the Customs Order (Prohibition on Imports) 2023.
"The lorry driver and the company's mechanic were detained to assist in the investigation, and the importer, whose address is in Kuala Lumpur, has been identified," Ismail added.
All three cases are being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for false declaration and non-compliance with import regulations. – Bernama
