SIBU: The Sarawak Customs Department seized contraband worth RM750,840 in a raid on a Sibu house on Oct 10.
The haul included over eight million cigarettes and nearly 200 litres of liquor from a house on Brooke Drive.
The house was believed to be used as a storage point for untaxed goods.
Director Datuk Norizan Yahya said the operation followed intelligence from the Sarawak Zonal Intelligence Centre.
He said it was led by officers from the Land Operations Unit under the Sibu Customs Enforcement Branch.
“Acting on information, our team raided the premises and discovered 8,330,000 sticks of cigarettes and 190.08 litres of liquor,” he said on Monday (Nov 17).
He said the items were of various brands.
He said the goods are suspected to be prohibited under the Customs (Prohibition on Imports) Order 2023.
Norizan said potential duties and taxes involved amounted to RM5,575,667.53.
He added the modus operandi involved storing prohibited cigarettes and alcohol in a private home to avoid detection.
No arrest was made as no one was present during the raid.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
He said the section covers storing or possessing goods not customs cleared or prohibited imports.
On conviction, offenders face a fine of at least ten times the duty or RM100,000, whichever is higher.
The fine can reach up to 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher.
They may also face between six months and five years’ jail, or both.
Norizan urged the public to help curb smuggling of cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, drugs and vehicles.
“Smuggling does not only cause revenue losses to the country,” he said.
“It also threatens national security and the well being of the people,” he added.
Norizan strongly advised the public not to be involved in such activities.
He called on the public to report smuggling via the Customs toll free line at 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs office.
“We assure the public that the identity of each informant will be kept strictly confidential,” he said.
