PUTRAJAYA, Aug 21 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)'s success in crippling a tobacco, cigarette, and cigar smuggling syndicate during raids in the Klang Valley and Johor last Tuesday stemmed from follow-up investigations into senior Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) officers who were detained under Op Sohor on August 14.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the operation was launched swiftly after receiving intelligence, with raids conducted at 14 locations in collaboration with several government agencies, including the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Inland Revenue Board.
"Op Sikaro is a direct result of MACC’s intelligence and investigations into individuals arrested in Op Sohor who were suspected of leaking operational information to smugglers who brought in prohibited goods such as drugs, cigarettes, and other goods from neighbouring countries.
“I want to stress that we acted as quickly as possible...within a week of receiving the information. While public perception expects immediate action, I hope the public understands the constraints we face,” he told the press during a special session today.
Azam added that close cooperation between enforcement agencies is crucial to effectively curb smuggling activities, which cause significant losses to the nation’s revenue.
On August 13, it was reported that the MACC had dismantled a smuggling syndicate masterminded by senior MAF intelligence officers based in the south of the country through Op Sohor.
That operation was carried out by MACC’s Intelligence Division with support from the Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS).
According to sources, five senior military officers and five civilians, who included an Indonesian national, all of them aged between 30 and 55, were arrested in the Klang Valley area.
On Tuesday (August 19), MACC launched Op Sikaro, raiding several premises in the Klang Valley and Johor as part of its crackdown on tobacco, cigarette, and cigar smuggling.
Following the operation, it froze several private and company bank accounts amounting to about RM218 million.
Investigations are ongoing to trace additional assets acquired through money laundering involving customs officers suspected of collusion, as well as the importing companies linked to the syndicate.
