PETALING JAYA: More than RM1.9mil worth of duty-unpaid liquor was seized as police busted a smuggling and distribution syndicate during raids in Puchong and Klang, Selangor, arresting five suspects.
Bukit Aman Wildlife Crime Control Bureau/Special Investigation Intelligence (WCB/PSK) commander Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Zaki Ashar said the operation, carried out last Thursday, led to the arrest of three local men and two foreign nationals.
“Police seized 389 crates and 255 boxes of various brands of liquor, two lorries and five mobile phones, with the total value of the seizure estimated at RM1,900,926.30,” he said in a statement.
SAC Mohd Zaki said preliminary investigations found that the syndicate had been actively storing, distributing and selling duty-unpaid liquor since 2024, with Pandamaran, Bukit Tinggi and Port Klang among its main distribution hubs.
The case is being investigated under Section 138(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
He said that between January and July this year, the WCB/PSK recorded 21 cases involving duty-unpaid liquor, resulting in 43 arrests and seizures worth RM38.7mil nationwide.
In a separate operation last Friday, the WCB/PSK, in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), rescued 89 protected turtles worth RM190,000 during raids in Lunas and Kulim, Kedah.
SAC Mohd Zaki said a local man was arrested during the operation, which resulted in the seizure of 74 Sulcata tortoises and 15 Yellow Pond turtles.
“Also seized during the integrated Khazanah Operation (Brian Exotic) were a sport utility vehicle (SUV) and a mobile phone. The case is being investigated under Section 61 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010,” he said.
He added that between January and July this year, the integrated Khazanah Operation recorded 53 cases, 56 arrests and total seizures worth RM93,884,589.
