Police dismantle a counterfeit liquor syndicate, arresting seven foreigners and seizing goods worth over RM221,000 in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor raids.
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have dismantled a syndicate involved in the manufacturing, storage and packaging of counterfeit liquor with the arrest of seven foreigners following two coordinated raids in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor under Op Taring Alpha 2 yesterday, with total seizures valued at RM221,514.75.
Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation Intelligence (WCB/PSK) commander Datuk Mohd Zaki Ashar said the first raid was conducted at an industrial area in Senawang at 3.30 pm, leading to the arrest of five individuals, three men and a woman from Nepal, and a man from Myanmar.
“During the raid, police seized 95 boxes of various liquor brands, 18 cartons of duty-free cigarettes and six boxes of subsidised cooking oil, which were handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in Seremban,” he said in a statement.
Following intelligence gathered from the first operation, he said, his team, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Division (BSJ) of the Kajang District Police Headquarters, carried out a second raid at a premises in Beranang at 5.45 pm on the same day.
In the second operation, two men, a Myanmar national and an Indian national, were arrested while transporting boxes believed to contain counterfeit liquor, he said, adding that the team also seized 69 boxes of various liquor brands, along with 22 machines and counterfeit labels used in the production process.
Mohd Zaki said investigations revealed that all suspects failed to produce valid identification documents or licences to manufacture liquor, and were also found in possession of untaxed cigarettes and subsidised cooking oil.
All suspects and seized items have been handed over to the Seremban and Kajang district police headquarters for further action.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1957, Sections 6(1)(c) and 39B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, as well as the Supply Control Act 1961.
