Royal Malaysian Customs Department foils 7,097 smuggling attempts in 2025, seizing goods worth RM1.88 billion, a 15% increase from the previous year.
PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) foiled 7,097 smuggling and duty evasion attempts in 2025. The seized goods, including taxable items, were valued at RM1.88 billion.
This represents a significant 15.33% increase, equivalent to RM250.71 million, compared to the RM1.63 billion seized in 2024. Director-General Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin said the achievement reflects the department’s firm enforcement capabilities.
“It thus protects the country’s revenue and curbs smuggling and embezzlement activities that affect the economy and well-being of the people,” she said at a press conference.
The most seized items were cigarettes in 2,742 cases, followed by liquor (920 cases), drugs (734 cases), and vehicles (516 cases). Confiscated vehicles are disposed of via open tender to ensure transparency and generate government revenue.
Anis Rizana emphasised that seized cigarettes and liquor are completely destroyed, not sold to the public. The department employs an integrated approach combining human intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency.
This data-driven method leverages officer experience for better risk assessment and decision-making. JKDM is also advancing its digital transformation with 134 new high-capacity scanning machines equipped with AI technology.
These machines can quickly identify scanned goods, boosting operational effectiveness. To uphold integrity, the department implemented a 100% work rotation for its personnel in 2025.
This exceeds the Public Service Department’s minimum 50% requirement and aims to reduce integrity risks while supporting human capital development.
