Customs Dept seizes over RM3 mln duty-unpaid ciggies, beer in KK, Penampang
by Elton GomesKOTA KINABALU (Oct 28): The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Sabah) seized duty-unpaid cigarettes and beer worth RM3,100,029.17 during five raids in the state capital.
Customs assistant director-general Siti Mang said two women and a man were detained by Customs officers during the raids in Penampang and Kota Kinabalu between Sept 26 and Oct 1.
“The first raid was made when Customs officers, acting on a tip-off, raided a storeroom along Jalan NC Mogunting, Kampung Hubah in Penampang on Oct 26.
“A total of 214,000 packets of untaxed cigarettes worth RM2,867,600 were seized in the raid.
“No arrest was made and the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967,” she told a press conference at the Sabah Customs headquarters today.
Separately on Sept 30, Customs officers raided three premises at Bandaran Berjaya and seized 445 cartons of untaxed beers worth RM3,949.67.
Siti said a man in his 60s and two women aged 41 and 50 were apprehended in the operation between 8pm and 8.30pm.
All the three cases are also under investigation under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, said Siti.
“The fifth raid was carried out on Oct 1 when Customs officers spotted a suspicious lorry at a transport company in Kota Kinabalu.
“Upon further inspection, Customs officers also inspected two other lorries in the area and found 1,830 cartons of untaxed beer worth RM228,479.50.
“A driver and his co-driver have been detained to assist in our investigation,” she said, adding that this case is also still under investigation under Section 135 of the Customs Act 1967.
Siti said all the raids were carried out following information of suspicious activities in the areas.
She urged the public to continue to channel smuggling information to the department.
The public can call the department’s toll-free line on 1-800-88-8855 or contact the nearest Customs office.