TELUK INTAN: Various brands of liquor and beer suspected to be duty-unpaid, valued at RM313,298.80, were seized in separate operations by the Customs Department.
Perak Customs Department director Mohd Nadzri Ariffin said the items were seized following raids on premises in Banting, Selangor, and Simpang, Taiping, on July 17 and 20 respectively.
He added that the liquor seized in Banting was estimated to be worth RM221,463.12, while the duties and taxes amounted to RM48,277.92.
“The raid was carried out at about 8.45am at the premises, where various brands of duty-unpaid liquor were found, including those labelled ‘Malaysia Duty Not Paid’ (MDNP),” he told a press conference here yesterday.
The MDNP items, he noted, are permitted for sale only in duty-free zones, while some of the liquor also bore tax stamps suspected to be counterfeit.
“The liquor was seized and a 70-year-old local man was detained during the operation for further investigation,” he said.
In the second raid in Taiping, he said various brands of beer suspected to be duty-unpaid, worth RM43,557.76, including duties and taxes, were seized.
The beer was estimated to be worth RM17,131.38, while the duties and taxes amounted to RM26,426.38.
“The raid was conducted at about 3pm by the same enforcement team, and inspections uncovered various brands of beer suspected to be untaxed,” Mohd Nadzri added.
He said further investigations revealed that the imported beer did not have valid Customs tax stamps as required under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order.
Mohd Nadzri said the owner of the residential premises is being traced to assist in the investigation.
Both cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act.
He urged members of the public with information on the cases or any smuggling activities to contact the toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855 or lodge a report at the nearest Customs department office.
