Latest news with #StateCustoms
The Star
10-07-2025
- The Star
Customs seizes RM5.5mil in contraband alcohol, cigarettes in Selangor raids
SEREMBAN: Customs have seized contraband alcoholic beverages and cigarettes worth almost RM5.5mil, inclusive of unpaid duties, in four operations in Selangor. State Customs chief Muhammad Illyas Cheek Abdullah said more than 20,000 litres of alcoholic beverages and 4.9 million cigarettes, including heated tobacco products, were seized during the raids. The seized contraband was worth some RM722,000 with unpaid duties totalling about RM4.76mil. He stated that in the first raid on May 5, Customs officers seized more than 59,000 bottles of liquor of various brands from a warehouse in an industrial area in Klang. "We also seized fake tax labels, boxes, empty bottles and related equipment to bottle the drinks. "We believe they have been operating illegally as the excise duty on the product has not been paid," he said in a statement. In the second raid on May 13, also in Klang, his men seized 1.1 million white and clove cigarettes packed in some 61,800 packets from another godown. Muhammad Illyas said in the third raid on May 19, Customs officers seized some 1.8 million contraband white and clove cigarettes packed in 143,600 packets from a godown in Rawang. "The modus operandi of the group is to store these contraband items in premises in industrial areas before selling them at cheaper prices in the market," he said. In the fourth operation, also on May 19, his team seized 1.99 million heated tobacco products packed in 99,500 packets from another godown in Rawang. He said the first case was being investigated under Section 20(1) of the Excise Act 1976, which carries a fine of between 10 and 20 times the amount of the unpaid excise duty or between RM100,000 and RM500,000. Offenders can also be jailed between six months and five years upon conviction. The three other cases are being probed under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries the same penalties.
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.
New Straits Times
02-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Illicit cigarettes, liquor worth RM2.67mil seized in Penang
BUTTERWORTH: Penang Customs successfully dismantled two smuggling attempts involving illicit cigarettes and liquor, with the total value including duties and taxes exceeding RM2.67 million, in separate operations conducted in May. State Customs director Rohaizad Ali said the first seizure involved 1.32 million sticks of white cigarettes and kretek found in a parked lorry at a residential area in Bukit Mertajam on May 6. He said officers from the Enforcement Department's Operations Unit inspected the vehicle and discovered the cigarettes, believed to be untaxed, stored in its cargo hold. He said the lorry was abandoned with its keys inside, a suspected modus operandi to avoid detection by authorities. "The total value of the seized goods is estimated at RM431,504, with duties and taxes amounting to around RM1.35 million. "The cigarettes are believed to have been brought in from a neighbouring country," he told newsmen here today. Rohaizad said two men, a lorry driver and co-driver in their 20s and 30s, who were nearby at the time of the raid, were nabbed to assist in the investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times the value or RM500,000, or imprisonment of between six months and five years, or both, upon conviction. In the second case on May 9, Customs officers raided a house in a residential neighbourhood here, where they seized a large quantity of liquor and beer believed to be untaxed. "The seizure involved 15,288 cans of beer and 13,820 bottles of liquor, with an estimated value of RM236,737.20, and total duties and taxes estimated at RM663,027.03," he added. The items are believed to have been temporarily stored at the premises before being distributed to the local market. The case is also being investigated under the same provision of the Customs Act 1967. Rohaizad stressed that both cigarettes and liquor are classified as prohibited import items under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023, and firm action would continue to be taken against all parties involved.
The Star
16-06-2025
- The Star
Customs foils bid to smuggle ganja buds worth RM1.43mil in Rantau Panjang
KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Customs Department seized over 14kg of ganja flowers, estimated to be worth RM1.43mil, at Gate 1 of the Duty Free Zone in Rantau Panjang on May 27. State Customs director Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long said the seizure was made after the Rantau Panjang East Zone Narcotics Unit inspected a bag left in the said area and found 10 transparent plastic packets of ganja flowers. He said his department also conducted a check on a Thai man at the same location and found in his bag 15 transparent plastic packets of suspected ganja buds, the potent flowering tops of the cannabis plant. "The total seizure involved two bags containing 25 transparent plastic packets with an estimated weight of over 14kg of suspected ganja buds, worth RM1.43mil. "The cannabis flowers were suspected of being smuggled through an illegal base in Sungai Golok. The man was brought back to the Enforcement Division office in Rantau Panjang for further investigation," he said in a statement Monday (June 16). Wan Jamal Abdul Salam said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and if convicted, the offender could be sentenced to death or life imprisonment, and if not sentenced to death, the offender could be sentenced to whipping of not less than 12 strokes. - Bernama
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.
