KLANG: Over RM40mil in contraband items has been detected after containers of illegal alcohol, cigarettes and waste were seized by the Customs Department.
Selangor Customs Department director Noraidah Ishak said that three separate cases of contraband and illegal waste were detected at Port Klang.
The first case on May 4 saw the seizure of a container containing 1,578 litres of liquor that had been hidden inside a consignment of auto parts.
“Together with the unpaid duties the alcohol is estimated to be worth RM409,917,” she said at a press conference at the department headquarters here, adding that the container had arrived at Port Klang on April 27.
The second case involved a total of 57 containers seized between "early 2026” and June this year.
“Checks showed that 13 containers contained 351,185kg of metal scrap and 44 containers held 841,552.50kg of plastic scrap. All containers had no import permits,” she said.
In total, the waste scraps were estimated to be valued at RM4965,866, including its relevant duties and taxes.
“The containers were falsely declared under Customs Form 1 as ‘mould’,’ABA flakes’, ‘aluminum material’,’PS flakes’, ‘copper concentrate’ and ‘PP Plastic Crush’. We believe this was to avoid the scraps from being detected by the department,” she said.
The third incident saw eight containers seized on June 3 and June 10 where the department found 48.78 million cigarettes.
“All containers were classified as ‘transshipment’ and no declarations were made in its manifest.
“The cigarettes were estimated to be valued at RM37,560,600 when added with its relevant duties and taxes.
“Checks showed that the containers arrived on May 15 and May 19, and that they had been shipped from an Asian country,” she said.
She added that the contraband cigarettes and alcohol were believed to have been intended for the local markets.
Investigations are underway to trace down the suspected receivers of the shipments.
