RM16.6 million smuggled goods seized

Published on: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Published on: Wed, Jun 11, 2025
By: Crystal E Hermenegildus Text Size: JKDM officers, including Siti (centre), showing the smuggled goods, including alcohol, chicken breast and canned products, seized. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Customs Department (JKDM) thwarted three separate smuggling attempts involving contraband goods worth a staggering RM16,668,938.04, including alcohol, boneless chicken breast and rice. JKDM Assistant Director General Siti Mang said the seizures were made during coordinated enforcement operations at Sepanggar Port between May 14 and May 29, this year.
Advertisement 'The operations reflect JKDM Sabah's firm commitment to combating smuggling activities which pose a threat not only to national revenue but also to public safety and food security,' she told a press conference at Sepanggar Port, Tuesday. Siti said the largest seizure involved 33 containers of imported beer which lacked the required import permits under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023. The contraband, estimated at 659,856 litres, carried a value of RM3.97 million, with duties and taxes amounting to a further RM11.86 million. 'Customs officials discovered that the shipping manifests had been falsified, with the goods declared as aluminium products to evade detection,' siti said. In the second case on May 16, authorities inspected a single container at Sepanggar Port and discovered 28,008kg of frozen boneless chicken breast, valued at RM233,400. 'The items required import permits from the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services but were falsely declared as frozen vegetables. 'The estimated duty and tax losses from this attempt were RM93,360,' she said. On May 29, a third inspection uncovered 150,000kg of fragrant and glutinous rice that had been falsely declared as broken rice for animal feed. Siti said the rice, packed in sacks and lacking proper import documentation from the Director General of Paddy and Rice Regulatory Authority, was valued at RM356,250. The evaded duties amounted to RM142,500. All three cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of no less than 10 times the value of the seized goods or RM50,000, whichever is greater. Offenders also face a maximum jail term of five years, or both. Siti urged the public to refrain from involvement in smuggling activities, which she said cause not only revenue leakages but also endanger national safety and disrupt the welfare of local communities. 'We call on the public to continue supporting Customs in the fight against smuggling by sharing any relevant information,' she said. Anyone with information on smuggling activities is encouraged to contact JKDM via the toll-free hotline 1-800-88-8855, or report to the nearest Customs office. The identity of whistleblowers will be kept strictly confidential. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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