Selangor customs foils two major smuggling attempts at Port Klang, seizing undeclared beer, cigars and rice worth RM5.75 million in separate container inspections.
PORT KLANG: The Selangor Royal Malaysian Customs Department has foiled two major smuggling attempts, seizing contraband worth RM5.75 million in separate operations at Port Klang.
Its director, Mohamad Azhar Ahmad Paharazi, said the first inspection at West Port on Dec 18 uncovered 37,128 litres of beer valued at RM1.39 million.
He said preliminary investigations found the goods, believed to lack import permits, were declared with inaccurate descriptions after arriving from an Asian country.
“The importation of liquor is subject to an import permit issued by the Director-General of Customs,” he told a press conference.
Acting on intelligence, a second inspection at North Port on Dec 29 led to the seizure of 6,250 kg of cigars and 3,900 kg of rice worth RM4.35 million.
Investigations revealed these items were falsely declared as footwear to evade import permit requirements.
“The cigars were suspected to be for the foreign national market here, while the rice was likely for the general market,” Mohamad Azhar added.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.
