Poisoning: 149 premises selling alcoholic drinks inspected

Sandakan: The Customs Department (JKDM) has inspected 149 premises selling alcoholic drinks following fatal cases of the toxic alcohol poisoning.JKDM deputy director-general (Enforcement and Compliance), Datuk Seri Zulkifli Yahya said the inspection involving premises in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport ended Sunday.

He said the seizure only involved 20 bottles of Volcano brand liquor at a premises inspected.

There were no seizures of alcoholic drink of the suspected brands which caused the deaths of 36 victims, he said at a media conference after launching Ops Pacak here Monday.

According to him, the inspection by the department was more towards tracking down illicit goods including cigarettes.

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He said on toxic alcohol poisoning, JKDM was assisting ensure no premises were selling the harmful liquor to consumers.

Zulkifli said in the inspection, four premises were found selling alcohol drinks and cigarettes without Customs's approval and the cases would be brought to court.

In this regard, Ops Pacak which was launched in the district here, he said Customs personnel have been directed to check if there premises selling the brands of toxic alcohol listed by the Health Ministry.

The three brands of liquor suspected to contain methanol are Grand Royal Whisky, Mandalay Whisky and King Fisher beer.

Meanwhile, Customs will conduct inspections on some 60 premises suspected of selling smuggled cigarettes and alcoholic drinks in the state.

Zulkifli said the inspection, would be carried out in collaboration with the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS).

"For the Sandakan district alone, the department would carry out inspections on 20 premises.

"The operation is part of the Customs Department efforts to combat cigarette and liquor smuggling activities that have caused the government to incur huge losses in tax revenue," he said.

Also present was MPS president Datuk Peter Hii Chang Lik.

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Meanwhile, Zulkifli said a total of 12 million sticks of cigarettes, for which about RM8 million in tax was not paid had been seized in the State during the first eight months of this year.

Earlier in his speech, he said a total of 1.2 billion sticks of cigarettes worth RM1 billion in tax and 11 million litres or RM400 million of contraband liquor were confiscated last year. – Bernama

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