PORT KLANG: The Selangor branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department foiled attempts to smuggle four types of commodities — cigarettes, vehicles, steel coils, and liquor — worth RM26.24mil, inclusive of duties and taxes.
State Customs director Mohamad Azhar Ahmad Paharazi said that the seizures were made under Ops Fortex Trident, conducted around Port Klang and Shah Alam from October to early November this year.
During raids at the West Port Free Zone on Oct 29 and Nov 4, over 28.8 million sticks of white cigarettes were seized from three 40-foot transshipment containers falsely declared as garments. The estimated value of the cigarettes is RM3,705,200, with duties and taxes amounting to RM19,798,940.
In cases involving imported vehicles, three petrol-powered vehicles and two electric vehicles (EVs), valued at RM1.02mil, were seized in two raids in Port Klang and the Port Klang Free Zone warehouse on Oct 17 and 25.
These vehicles were stored beyond the permitted period in licensed warehouses, with unpaid duties and taxes. The luxury vehicles, including a BMW and Porsche, were used, while the EVs were new models believed to have been imported without permits from the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry.
The case of concealing, storing, or harbouring uncustomed goods is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, while the EV case is under Section 135(1)(a) for importing prohibited goods.
The operation also led to the seizure of 28 steel coils weighing 108,874kg from four 20-foot containers at the North Port Free Zone on Oct 22. These commodities were imported without permits and were subject to anti-dumping duties of 52.10%, with the total seizure value amounting to RM909,642, including taxes and duties.
Additionally, Customs seized various alcoholic beverages worth RM807,646, including duties and taxes, during raids at a duty-free shop, a free zone warehouse, and a premises in Shah Alam. The first raid at a duty-free shop in West Port on Oct 30 uncovered 1,573.4l of alcoholic beverages with unpaid duties and taxes, with the shop's licence expired.
The second raid on Oct 14 and Nov 4 at a free zone warehouse in North Port revealed 16 pallets of crates with 2,562l of alcoholic beverages falsely declared as salad dressing and stools. A subsequent raid on a retail shop in Shah Alam uncovered 752.11l of alcoholic beverages believed to have been imported without a permit.
All the cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for importing prohibited goods without an import permit. – Bernama
