KLANG, Oct 22 — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Selangor foiled attempts to smuggle various prohibited goods, worth over RM10 million, through several operations since August.
Its director Mohamad Azhar Ahmad Paharazi said the items seized include cigars, LED display panels, rice and e-cigarettes (vapes).
He said the syndicate’s modus operandi involving the West Port Free Zone and North Port Free Zone was similar: using false declarations to mislead the authorities and avoid import permit requirements.
In the first operation on August 1, the department detained a 40-foot (ft) container at the West Port Free Zone after an inspection revealed 8,750kg of cigars believed to be without valid import permits.
“The goods worth RM6.06 million, including duties and taxes, were declared as 'Beverages and Etc' to deceive the authorities.
"Initial investigations found that the container arrived at Port Klang on July 18 and the goods are believed to have originated from an Asian country," Azhar said during a press conference at Wisma Kastam in Pulau Indah today.
For the second case, two 40-ft containers were seized at the North Port Free Zone on August 5 after an inspection found 480 units of LED display panels worth RM2.52 million, including duties and taxes.
He said the goods were declared as 'Display Panel, Hand Tools, and Hardware Accessories' to avoid detection, even though their import requires a permit issued by the Energy Commission.
For the subsequent case on August 28, a 20-ft container was detained at the West Port Free Zone after an inspection revealed 19,000 kgs of rice worth RM106,400, including duties and taxes.
"The goods in question were declared as 'Epson Ammonium Sulfate' to avoid the need for a permit from Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas)," Azhar said.
Subsequent intelligence led to the seizure of a 40-ft container at the same location on September 9 and the confiscation of 30,000 electronic cigarettes along with 900,000 millilitres of nicotine liquid worth RM1.32 million, including duties and taxes.
He said the importation of these goods, which require an import permit issued by the Health Ministry, was declared as a 'Storage Box' to avoid detection.
All the cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which relates to importing prohibited goods.
