Latest news with #PenangCustomsDepartment
The Sun
02-07-2025
- The Sun
Penang customs seize RM2.67m in smuggled cigarettes and liquor
BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Customs Department detained two men and crippled a smuggling syndicate, seizing various cigarettes as well as alcoholic beverages worth RM2.67 million in separate raids in the state recently. State Customs director Rohaizad Ali said in the first case, its enforcement officers detained two suspects after inspecting a lorry parked at a Bukit Mertajam residential area car park on May 6. 'We detained two men, in their 20s and 30s, who were found not far from the parked lorry. They were the driver and assistant of the vehicle. Further checks of the lorry uncovered white and kretek cigarettes suspected to be untaxed. 'The seized cigarettes amounted to 1.32 million sticks, valued at RM431,504, with total unpaid duties estimated at RM1.34 million. Investigations found that all the cigarettes were smuggled in from a neighbouring country to be distributed in northern states,' he said at a press conference here today. He said investigations revealed that the syndicate's modus operandi involved abandoning lorries loaded with smuggled cigarettes in public parking areas to evade detection by authorities. Rohaizad added that investigations are ongoing to trace the cigarette smuggling syndicate, which is believed to have an international network. Meanwhile, in a second case, the Customs team raided a house in a Butterworth residential area on May 9, seizing various alcoholic beverages valued at RM236,737.20, with total unpaid duties amounting to RM663,027.03. 'During the raid, the house was locked and unoccupied. Our team broke down the door and discovered a variety of alcoholic beverages, including 15,288 cans of beer and 13,820 bottles of liquor stored in the residence,' he said. He added that the homeowner claimed to have rented the property to an individual, and customs officers are tracking down the suspect involved in the case. Both cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
The Star
06-06-2025
- The Star
Penang Customs thwarts RM5mil vape smuggling bid
BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Customs Department has thwarted an attempt to smuggle in over 80,000 vape pods and nearly 1,000 litres of vape liquid, worth a staggering RM5.1mil including taxes, into the country via Penang and Selangor. Its director Rohaizad Ali said the first raid revealed that the illicit consignment had been declared as plastic materials and hidden among other imported goods in a bid to evade detection. The first raid saw Customs officers inspecting a container at the North Butterworth Container Terminal at around 1.15pm on April 3. 'Our officers seized 14,200 unit of vape pods and 220 litres of vape liquid worth about RM1.5mil, including taxes,' he told a press conference yesterday. Rohaizad added that during the raid, two men – a port agent and a Chinese national in their 30s – were detained. In the second raid at Port Klang on April 10, Customs officers confiscated 71,886 vape pods and 786 litres of vape liquid and electronic gels worth about RM3.64mil. A port agent was arrested to assist in investigations, said Rohaizad. Meanwhile, the department also seized more than 18kg of ganja buds worth some RM1.8mil in separate operations in the state. Rohaizad said on April 16, a team from the Customs narcotics unit conducted checks on parcels at Pos Malaysia's mail courier centre in Batu Kawan and discovered four packages containing dried plant material believed to be ganja buds. He said the seized drugs weighed slightly over 2.2kg and were valued at RM219,128. To avoid detection, the parcels were declared as containing nine units of 'comic books' and exported to the United Kingdom before being returned with the status of 'returned parcel'.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Penang Customs seizes vape devices, liquid worth RM5.17 million
BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Customs Department seized 86,086 electronic cigarette (vape) devices and 996.5 litres of vape liquid, worth RM5.17 million including taxes, in two separate raids conducted last April. State Customs director Rohaizad Ali said the raids, carried out at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) and Port Klang, also led to the arrest of three men, including a Chinese national. He said the first raid took place at 1.15 pm on April 3, when the Enforcement Division's Operations Unit inspected a container that had arrived at NBCT from China. 'The inspection uncovered 14,200 units of electronic cigarette devices and 210 bottles of vape liquid that were undeclared during import, alongside other merchandise. The total estimated value of the goods was RM1.33 million, with duties amounting to RM205,400. 'A local man acting as an agent and a Chinese national who claimed to be the exporter were arrested. This marks the first vape-related seizure in Penang this year that has led to arrests,' he said at a press conference held at the Bagan Jermal Enforcement Storage facility today. Rohaizad said the inspection found that the container had been declared as carrying plastic goods, but the vape devices and liquids were hidden among other items and not declared. In a separate raid at 11 am on April 10, authorities seized 71,886 electronic cigarette devices and 786.5 litres of vape liquid worth RM3.64 million, including tax, following the inspection of another container from China, this time at Port Klang. A local man in his 40s, who acted as an agent, was arrested in connection with the case. 'The container was declared to contain belts and wallets, but the inspection uncovered undeclared vape devices and liquids mixed with the declared items,' he said. Rohaizad added that further investigations are ongoing for both cases under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Penang Customs Seize RM5.17 million in Vape Devices, Liquids
BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Customs Department seized 86,086 electronic cigarette (vape) devices and 996.5 litres of vape liquid, worth RM5.17 million including taxes, in two separate raids conducted last April. State Customs director Rohaizad Ali said the raids, carried out at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) and Port Klang, also led to the arrest of three men, including a Chinese national. He said the first raid took place at 1.15 pm on April 3, when the Enforcement Division's Operations Unit inspected a container that had arrived at NBCT from China. 'The inspection uncovered 14,200 units of electronic cigarette devices and 210 bottles of vape liquid that were undeclared during import, alongside other merchandise. The total estimated value of the goods was RM1.33 million, with duties amounting to RM205,400. 'A local man acting as an agent and a Chinese national who claimed to be the exporter were arrested. This marks the first vape-related seizure in Penang this year that has led to arrests,' he said at a press conference held at the Bagan Jermal Enforcement Storage facility today. Rohaizad said the inspection found that the container had been declared as carrying plastic goods, but the vape devices and liquids were hidden among other items and not declared. In a separate raid at 11 am on April 10, authorities seized 71,886 electronic cigarette devices and 786.5 litres of vape liquid worth RM3.64 million, including tax, following the inspection of another container from China, this time at Port Klang. A local man in his 40s, who acted as an agent, was arrested in connection with the case. 'The container was declared to contain belts and wallets, but the inspection uncovered undeclared vape devices and liquids mixed with the declared items,' he said. Rohaizad added that further investigations are ongoing for both cases under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.
Barnama
05-06-2025
- Barnama
Penang Customs Seizes Vape Devices, Liquid Worth RM5.17 Million
BUTTERWORTH, June 5 (Bernama) -- The Penang Customs Department seized 86,086 electronic cigarette (vape) devices and 996.5 litres of vape liquid, worth RM5.17 million including taxes, in two separate raids conducted last April. State Customs director Rohaizad Ali said the raids, carried out at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) and Port Klang, also led to the arrest of three men, including a Chinese national. He said the first raid took place at 1.15 pm on April 3, when the Enforcement Division's Operations Unit inspected a container that had arrived at NBCT from China. 'The inspection uncovered 14,200 units of electronic cigarette devices and 210 bottles of vape liquid that were undeclared during import, alongside other merchandise. The total estimated value of the goods was RM1.33 million, with duties amounting to RM205,400. 'A local man acting as an agent and a Chinese national who claimed to be the exporter were arrested. This marks the first vape-related seizure in Penang this year that has led to arrests,' he said at a press conference held at the Bagan Jermal Enforcement Storage facility today. Rohaizad said the inspection found that the container had been declared as carrying plastic goods, but the vape devices and liquids were hidden among other items and not declared. In a separate raid at 11 am on April 10, authorities seized 71,886 electronic cigarette devices and 786.5 litres of vape liquid worth RM3.64 million, including tax, following the inspection of another container from China, this time at Port Klang. A local man in his 40s, who acted as an agent, was arrested in connection with the case. 'The container was declared to contain belts and wallets, but the inspection uncovered undeclared vape devices and liquids mixed with the declared items,' he said.
