SEPANG: Seventy-two servers containing advanced AI chips worth more than RM50mil were seized after a foiled attempt to transit the equipment through the KL International Airport (KLIA) Free Commercial Zone without a permit.
The seizure was carried out by Customs officers at about 4.30pm on June 5, said the department’s KLIA director Zulkifli Muhammad.
He said investigations revealed that the servers were destined for re-export to another Asian country, adding that the syndicate declared the shipment as computer components.
“We believe the servers, valued at RM52.92mil inclusive of duties and taxes, originated from an Asian country,” he told a press conference at the KLIA Cargo Customs Complex yesterday.
Zulkifli said investigations under Section 12 of the Strategic Trade Act were ongoing with one suspect detained so far.
He reminded that anyone intending to export, transship or bring in transit controlled advanced AI chips must notify the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry’s strategic trade secretariat at least 30 days prior.
In another case, Zulkifli said the Customs Department thwarted an attempt to smuggle RM1.19mil worth of methamphetamine-laced electronic cigarette (vape) cartridges concealed inside computer CPU casings destined for a neighbouring country on June 10.
He said officers inspected six black plastic-wrapped boxes at the KLIA Free Commercial Zone and discovered 4,760 vape liquid cartridges in various fruit flavours believed to contain methamphetamine.
