Cigarette smuggling syndicate busted using abandoned building as storage facility

SEPANG: The Customs Department has uncovered a smuggling syndicate that used a dilapidated and seemingly abandoned building as a storage facility for contraband cigarettes.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Customs director Zulkifli Muhammad said the syndicate's modus operandi was uncovered following a raid on May 22 at a dilapidated building near a residential area in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
He said the abandoned building had been used as a storage facility for smuggled white cigarettes in an attempt to evade detection by authorities, with the structure, in its run-down condition, appeared unsuspicious and would typically go unnoticed.
"Following the raid, nearly 1.9 million sticks of cigarettes of various brands and 377kg of tobacco, with the total market value, including duties and taxes, estimated at over RM1.56 million were seized," he said in a press conference today.
He said efforts were underway to trace the owner of the premises to assist in the investigation, which is being conducted under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
Meanwhile, Zulkifli also revealed that Customs had successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle 62,000 litres of nicotine-laced electronic cigarette liquid during an operation at the premises of an air cargo terminal operator in the KLIA Free Trade Zone on April 28.
He said the syndicate had attempted to deceive authorities by falsely declaring the product as disposable electronic cigarettes, which do not require an import licence from the Health Ministry.
"Nicotine is classified as a prohibited item under Item 4, Schedule II, Part I of the Customs (Prohibition on Imports) Order 2023, and its importation is only allowed with a valid licence from the MOH.
"The total value of the seizure is estimated at RM334,000, with duties and taxes amounting to RM60,680," he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Regulation 30 (1) of the Free Zone Regulations 1991.
– Bernama

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Star

28 minutes ago

• The Star

Police hunt for masked men armed with machetes after violent incident in Changkat Jong

IPOH: Police are seeking three masked men armed with machetes, who were seen in a viral video. They were suspected of causing injuries to patrons, damaging items, stealing money and vandalising cars at an entertainment outlet in Changkat Jong near Teluk Intan. Hilir Perak OCPD Asst Comm Dr Bakri Zainal Abidin said a police report was lodged by a 42-year-old local man working as a security guard at the entertainment premises on June 15. 'The complainant said that the three masked male suspects armed with machetes arrived in a car without a license plate number, and stormed into the premises. 'The suspects proceeded to damage items inside the premises and stole a phone belonging to a staff member, along with RM2,000 from the counter. 'Additionally, the suspects smashed the windows of four vehicles belonging to customer, and injuring two patrons using machetes both inside and outside the premises,' he said in a statement on Saturday (June 21). ACP Bakri stated that initial investigations have successfully identified one of the suspects as a 37-year-old local man with a criminal record. He said the forensic unit from the Perak Contingent Police Headquarters visited the crime scene and recovered several pieces of evidence, including bloodstains, two fingerprints and shards of glass. CCTV footage from the location has also been obtained. 'The case is being investigated under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for gang robbery with weapons, and Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief causing damage to public property. 'The police are actively investigating and intensifying efforts to track down all individuals involved. 'Anyone who has any information is urged to come forward to assist the investigation by contacting the Hilir Perak Police Station or the nearest police station,' said ACP Bakri.

The Sun

an hour ago

• The Sun

Retiree loses over RM530,000 to Facebook investment scam

JOHOR BAHRU: A private sector retiree lost RM535,766 after allegedly falling victim to an online investment scam promoted via an advertisement on the Facebook application. Seri Alam District Police chief ACP Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said the police received a report from a 57-year-old local man on Tuesday, who claimed losses exceeding RM500,000. He said the victim had come across a share investment advertisement on Facebook on March 13 that promised lucrative returns within a short time, and clicked on the provided link out of interest. 'Subsequently, the victim made 26 payment transactions into five different bank accounts between March 13 and June 5, totalling RM535,766. The victim was also asked to make additional payments to withdraw the so-called 'investment profits', but those requests were never fulfilled,' he said in a statement today. Mohd Sohaimi said the victim only realised he had been duped after repeated attempts to recover the investment funds proved futile. 'Preliminary checks via the CCID's 'Semak Mule' platform found that all five accounts involved had a total of 22 police reports linked to investment scams,' he said. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, and police are also looking into the possible involvement of mule account holders.

New Straits Times

2 hours ago

• New Straits Times

Retiree's RM535k gone in Facebook 'investment' scam

JOHOR BARU: – A private sector retiree lost RM535,766 after allegedly falling victim to an online investment scam promoted via a Facebook advertisement. Seri Alam police chief ACP Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said police received a report from a 57-year-old local man on Tuesday, who claimed losses exceeding RM500,000. He said the victim had come across a share investment advertisement on Facebook on March 13 that promised lucrative returns within a short time, and clicked on the provided link out of interest. "Subsequently, the victim made 26 payment transactions into five different bank accounts between March 13 and June 5, totalling RM535,766. The victim was also asked to make additional payments to withdraw the so-called 'investment profits', but those requests were never fulfilled," he said in a statement yesterday. Mohd Sohaimi said the victim only realised he had been duped after repeated attempts to recover the investment funds proved futile. "Preliminary checks via the CCID's 'Semak Mule' platform found that all five accounts involved had a total of 22 police reports linked to investment scams," he said. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, and police are also looking into the possible involvement of mule account holders.