Pahang Customs director with photographs of the lorry and ship that were seized in the 2am raid. - Photo: Bernama
KUANTAN: The Customs Department in Pahang has successfully foiled an illegal attempt to offload tin ore for the first time, with the seized items, including tin ore, valued at RM4.1mil during a raid at a jetty near Rompin on March 11.
Pahang Customs director Mohd Asri Seman said that during the 2am raid conducted by the department's enforcement division, one local man and four Indonesian men, aged between 23 and 53 years old, were also arrested.
"Upon inspection, the team discovered a lorry carrying what is believed to be tin ore stored in white sacks. Further investigation of a ship at the jetty revealed the same mineral in its storage compartment.
"In total, 600 sacks of tin ore, each weighing 50 kilograms, amounting to 30,000kg with an estimated value of RM2.9mil were seized.
"In addition, we also seized the lorry and ship involved to assist in the investigation," he said at a press conference here on Monday (April 7).
Mohd Asri said the syndicate's modus operandi involved importing the mineral from a neighbouring country without valid documentation and unloading it at an illegal jetty early in the morning to evade detection by the authorities.
"We believe the tin ore was brought in from a neighbouring country to be processed into ingots," he added.
He noted that all suspects have been detained under Section 116C of the Customs Act 1967 to assist investigations under Section 36(1), Section 52(1), and Section 135(1)(a) of the same Act. – Bernama
Some of the tin ore seized during the raid. - Photo: Bernama
