Contraband fags and beer worth RM5.4 million seized
Published on: Friday, March 22, 2024
Nasir (second left) showing the seized contraband.
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMC) seized contraband beer and cigarettes worth RM5.4 million in four separate raids between March 6 and 18.
Sabah RMC Assistant Director Datuk Mohd Nasir Deraman said the success was the result of monitoring by the Sepanggar Port Import Export branch and follow-up action by the RMC’s Enforcement Operations Unit.
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He said the liquor seized amounted to 177,381.80 litres worth RM961,658.11 and the estimated amount of duties and taxes involved is as much as RM3.33 million.
“The various types of cigarettes confiscated numbered 930,000 sticks with a value of RM107,112 and duties and taxes involved amounting to RM1.01 million,” he told a press conference in Sepanggar, near here, Thursday.
He said the first case involved the seizure of two containers of liquor on March 6.
“There was an attempt to smuggle the liquor, branded Cool Beer and estimated to be worth RM1.017 million, through the Sepanggar Port.
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“The second seizure involved smuggled liquor and cigarettes carried out at a warehouse in Kampung Ramayah, Jalan Penampang-Papar.
“The worth of all confiscated items is estimated to be RM1.078 million.
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“Two vehicles - a lorry and a van - were also seized for further investigation,” he said.
Nasir said a further probe led to a raid on a house in Penampang and found three lorries carrying a load of cigarettes and liquor worth RM91,935.
The third case involved the seizure of four containers of Carlsberg Pilsner liquor worth RM1.82 million at the Sepanggar Port on March 15.
The last case on March 18 saw two containers of Paris Romantic Night liquor, estimated to be worth RM434,050, confiscated.
Nasir said the modus operandi used involved falsifying information on documents and declaring the items as other than what they are, as well as hiding untaxed goods.
The authorities did not make any arrests during the raids, and they are conducting further investigations to identify the masterminds.
Investigations are ongoing under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
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