Selangor customs foiled smuggling attempts, seizing cigarettes, vehicles, steel and liquor worth over RM26 million in duties and taxes.
PORT KLANG: The Selangor Royal Malaysian Customs Department has foiled major smuggling attempts, seizing four types of commodities worth over RM26 million.
Director Mohamad Azhar Ahmad Paharazi said the seizures were made under Operation Fortex Trident around Port Klang and Shah Alam from October to early November.
The department seized more than 28.8 million sticks of white cigarettes from three transshipment containers falsely declared as garments.
“The estimated value of the 28.81 million sticks of white cigarettes is RM3.7 million, with duties and taxes amounting to RM19.8 million,” he said.
In vehicle cases, three petrol-powered cars and two electric vehicles worth RM1.02 million were seized in Port Klang.
The luxury vehicles, including a BMW and Porsche, were used cars stored beyond the permitted period with unpaid duties.
The new EVs are believed to have been imported without permits from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
The operation also led to the seizure of 28 steel coils weighing 108,874 kilogrammes from four containers.
These commodities were imported without MITI permits and were subject to 52.1% anti-dumping duties.
JKDM also seized various alcoholic beverages worth RM807,646 from a duty-free shop, warehouse, and premise in Shah Alam.
A raid at a duty-free shop uncovered 1,573.4 litres of alcohol with unpaid duties, and the shop’s licence had expired.
“Inspections at a free zone warehouse uncovered 2,562 litres of alcoholic beverages falsely declared as salad dressing and stools,” Mohamad Azhar said.
A subsequent raid on a Shah Alam retail shop found 752.11 litres of alcohol believed to lack an import permit.
All alcohol-related cases are being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 for importing prohibited goods. – Bernama
