Latest news with #ACTS
The Star
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
RM183mil in assets seized
Shock and awe: ACTS officers storming a luxury residence in a high-stakes dawn raid in Batu Maung, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star BUTTERWORTH: A day after uncovering a metal and e-waste smuggling syndicate, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) continued its crackdown with asset seizures of over RM183mil. The coordinated sweep at 13 locations across Penang, Kedah, Johor and the Klang Valley yesterday was conducted with the Customs Department, Inland Revenue Board and Bank Negara Malaysia as part of Ops Metal. In the second blitz in Penang yesterday, the MACC's elite Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS) stormed a company involved in e-waste processing in the Perai industrial area, Butterworth. The team inspected company documents and examined e-waste components after briefly questioning a security guard. A man believed to be the company's chief operating officer also provided the investigating team with information and a tour of the warehouse facility. Some workers, including foreign nationals, were also checked for proper documentation. MACC said 45 company bank accounts and 82 personal accounts, amounting to RM51mil, were frozen in the operation. The assets seized were a 793ha oil palm plantation in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, along with eight properties in Penang – three bungalows in Batu Maung, a penthouse in Tanjung Tokong, a shoplot in Bayan Lepas, 12.54ha of land in Nibong Tebal, 2.8ha in Batu Uban and 2.26ha in Juru. Also confiscated were six luxury cars valued at over RM1.9mil and five branded watches collectively worth more than RM740,000. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the seizure of the properties, vehicles and watches, as well as the freezing of bank accounts. 'The MACC is identifying parties in cahoots with this syndicate, which smuggled metal and e-waste through Port Klang and Penang Port. 'This has resulted in about RM950mil losses in tax revenue over the past six years. 'The focus of the investigation is on offences under Sections 16 (relating to soliciting or accepting gratification) and 18 (pertaining to deception through false claims) of the MACC Act 2009. 'We are also analysing and identifying elements of other criminal offences, including money laundering activities. 'This includes investigations by other agencies under the Income Tax Act 1967 and the Customs Act 1967,' he said. On Monday, the MACC began a large-scale crackdown, targeting 19 locations in Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Kedah. The operation centred on a prominent scrap metal company owner with a 'Datuk' title. However, the suspect – believed to be a foreign national – was not at his home in Batu Maung, having reportedly left the country two days earlier. The team then moved to a scrap metal storage and processing facility on Jalan Bukit Minyak, in mainland Penang, believed to belong to the suspect. For over six years, the well-organised smuggling syndicate has exported scrap metal and e-waste to several countries, evading nearly RM1bil in export duties. The group falsely declared the cargo as machinery and other non-taxable metal goods to bypass the government's 15% export duty, with destinations including China, India and others. To execute the scheme, the syndicate is alleged to have bribed Customs Department officers, establishing a corrupt network that operated undetected for years.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
MACC's elite tactical squad raids 'Datuk' businessman's home
PULAU PINANG: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) elite Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS) raided the home of a scrap metal company owner in Batu Maung in a major operation yesterday. The elite team, fully equipped with ballistic vests and helmets, and dressed in tactical black fatigues, arrived in a specially modified operations vehicle known as the SPV, which is fitted with the latest systems to support enforcement activities in real-time. Upon arrival, ACTS officers stormed the property and secured the perimeter of the residence belonging to a businessman with the title of 'Datuk'. The operation was part of the commission's ongoing Op Metal. ACTS personnel are specially trained operatives who have completed the Advanced Special Operations Training (ASOT) programme, recognised under the Subject Matter Expert (SME) certification. The training includes Close Quarters Battle (CQB) techniques, which are essential in hostage rescue, and securing high-value targets (HVTs). This intensive preparation ensures that ACTS remains at the top of its game to handle high-risk enforcement duties. Upon completing the programme, members are awarded a commissioned beret, a ceremonial dagger, the Malaysian flag insignia, and the ACTS emblem.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
MACC busts scrap metal smuggling rings in 5 states
The raids were carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's special operations division through the multi-agency task force. (Bernama pic) GEORGE TOWN : The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has launched a major crackdown on scrap metal smuggling syndicates in five states, believed to have paid bribes to enforcement officers resulting in an estimated tax revenue loss of over RM950 million. The raids were carried out by MACC's special operations division through the multi-agency task force, in collaboration with the customs department, the Inland Revenue Board, and Bank Negara Malaysia, at 19 locations across Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, and Kedah. The operation, dubbed 'Op Metal', also involved personnel from MACC's anti-corruption tactical squad (ACTS), who raided six sites in Penang yesterday including residences, offices, and scrap metal storage and processing centres believed to be involved in the smuggling operations. The first raid was conducted at a three-storey luxury bungalow in Batu Maung, believed to belong to a businessman who owns a scrap metal company, at around 6am on July 14. A domestic helper opened the door after ACTS officers knocked, and a search was conducted with officials, although the company owner was reportedly out at the time. The operations team searched for evidence and documents related to the smuggling activities while the ACTS team maintained surveillance inside and outside the home. Later, members of the media were brought along for a raid on a scrap metal storage and processing site at Jalan Bukit Minyak in Bukit Mertajam, just as the premises were opening for business at around 9 am. The ACTS team conducted an inspection of the zinc-fenced facility where scrap metal was believed to have been processed before being exported overseas. The team gathered nearly 30 employees, including office staff, before conducting further checks. The premises are believed to be linked to the man whose house was raided earlier that morning. About 15 minutes later, a man claiming to be the site's manager arrived with assurances of full cooperation, while the operations team carried out further checks and reportedly seized several documents for investigation. Meanwhile, a source said that seven raids in Selangor, four in Kedah, and one each in Negeri Sembilan and Johor had targeted other scrap metal centres, offices, and homes of individuals suspected to be involved in the smuggling. Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicates exported the scrap metal to India, China, and other countries, declaring it as machinery or other metals not subject to the 15% export tax imposed by the government. 'To ensure that the shipments passed inspections and avoided the tax, the syndicates are believed to have bribed several enforcement officers,' the source said. The source said the complicity of certain enforcement officers had caused the government to lose around RM160 million in tax revenue per year over the past six years, with total losses estimated at over RM950 million. The number of arrests and seizures from the operation will be updated as investigations are still ongoing. MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the raids in the five states. He said the case was being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Investigations are also focused on identifying individuals, including public servants, who may have protected the syndicate's activities.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Busted: Scrap iron smuggling syndicate which caused RM950mil in losses
GEORGE TOWN: A syndicate operating in five states has been smuggling scrap iron out of the country, causing the government to lose some RM950 million in export duties over the past six years. The syndicate would send shipments of the scrap iron out by declaring them to be machinery or other, less valuable metals, circumnavigating the system to avoid paying the 15 per cent export duty to the government. The syndicate was also believed to have paid bribes to enforcement officers to turn a blind eye to their activities. Their activities, however, were crippled when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission carried out simultaneous raids at premises in all five states beginning at 6pm yesterday. The raids, codenamed Op Metal, were carried out by MACC's Special Operations Division through a Multi Agency Task Force (MATF) with the Customs Department, Internal Revenue Board and Bank Negara Malaysia at 19 locations in Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Kedah melalui operasi Op Metal. A Harian Metro journalist followed the raids at several residences and business premises owned by the syndicate in Penang. The officers involved in the raid were protected by armed members of the MACC's Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS). At one particular three-storey residence equipped with its own lift and owned by a syndicate member, several luxury cars with special registration numbers could be seen parked in the compound. The individual, who is also the owner of a company and holds a "Datuk" title, is alleged to have exported scrap iron overseas without paying export duties by bribing enforcement officers. The syndicate gets high prices for the metal in several countries as there is a large demand for them. Meanwhile, a raid at a factory in Jalan Bukit Minyak, Bukit Mertajam, at 9pm, saw several workers, most of them foreigners, surprised by the MATF members, operating under the watchful eyes of ACTS personnel. Checks in the factory compound turned up piles of scrap iron, some of which had already been processed into cubes. According to sources, the raids involved scrap iron processing and storage centres, offices and residences of people believed to be part of the syndicate. "Initial investigations have found that the syndicate would smuggle crap iron to India, China and several other countries by declaring them to be machinery or machine parts, or other metals which are not subject to export duties of 15 per cent. "In order to ensure that these consignments are cleared without the export duties having to be paid, the syndicate is believed to have given bribes to some enforcement officers," said a source. He said the collusion of these crooked enforcement officers has caused the government to lose roughly RM160 million a year in export duties. With the syndicate having begun such operations six year ago, said the source, the estimated losses were placed at RM950 million. The source said investigations were still ongoing, with MACC expected to announce the amount of seizures and arrests made by today. Meanwhile, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, when contacted, confirmed the raids in the five states. He said the case was being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA). He added that the investigation will also focus on identifying those involved, including civil servants who protected these activities.
Barnama
a day ago
- Barnama
MACC Busts Scrap Metal Smuggling Rings In Five States
CRIME & COURTS GEORGE TOWN, July 15 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has launched a major crackdown on scrap metal smuggling syndicates operating in five states, which are believed to have paid bribes to enforcement officers, resulting in an estimated tax revenue loss of over RM950 million to the government. The raids were carried out by the MACC's Special Operations Division through the Multi Agency Task Force (MATF), in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), at 19 locations across Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, and Kedah. The special operation, dubbed 'Op Metal,' also involved personnel from MACC's Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS), who raided six sites in Penang yesterday, including residences, offices, and scrap metal storage and processing centres believed to be involved in the smuggling operation. The first raid, which was also joined by Bernama, was conducted at a three-storey luxury bungalow in Batu Maung around 6 am Monday (July 14), believed to belong to a businessman who owns a scrap metal company. A domestic helper opened the door after ACTS officers knocked, and a search was conducted with officials, though the company owner was reportedly not home at the time. Only the man's wife, child, and an elderly woman believed to be his mother were in the residence, while the foreign national was said to be abroad on business for the past two days. The operations team searched for evidence and documents related to the smuggling activities, while the ACTS team maintained surveillance inside and outside the home to ensure a smooth operation. Later, members of the media were brought along for a raid on a scrap metal storage and processing site at Jalan Bukit Minyak in Bukit Mertajam around 9 am, just as the premises opened for business. The ACTS team conducted a thorough inspection of the zinc-fenced facility, which contained scrap metals of various forms, sizes, and types believed to be processed before being exported overseas.
