SARIKEI: The Sarawak branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department has seized a large quantity of suspected untaxed cigarettes and liquor following a raid on a house at Lorong Rantau Panjang Jaya 3H.
State Customs director Datuk Norizan Yahya said the operation at 9.15pm on Dec 19 was carried out by Sarikei Customs officers and led to the discovery of 6,766,400 sticks of cigarettes and 89,416.80 litres of liquor of various brands believed to be prohibited goods under the Customs (Prohibition on Imports) Order 2023.
“The total value of the seized cigarettes and liquor is estimated at RM1,209,043.20, while the import duty and taxes involved are estimated to amount to RM6,079,411.85,” he said in a statement on Monday (January 12).
Datuk Norizan added that investigations revealed the modus operandi involved storing suspected illegal cigarettes and liquor at residential premises in an attempt to avoid detection by enforcement authorities.
He said the case is currently being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for storing or possessing goods that have not been customs-cleared or are prohibited from import.
“If convicted, the offender may face a fine of not less than 10 times the amount of customs duty or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher, or imprisonment for a term of between six months and five years, or both,” he said.
He also urged the public to cooperate with Customs in combating smuggling activities, particularly involving cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, drugs and vehicles.
“Smuggling not only causes losses in government revenue, but also poses a threat to national security and the well-being of the people,” he said.
Members of the public with information on smuggling activities are encouraged to contact the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs office.
Norizan also assured the public that the identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.
