Latest news with #Customs(ProhibitiononImports)Order2023
Barnama
2 days ago
- Barnama
Cigarette Smuggling Syndicate Busted Using Abandoned Building As Storage Facility
SEPANG, June 19 (Bernama) -- 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 377 kilogrammes 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 Ministry of Health (MOH). '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.
The Star
13-06-2025
- The Star
Melaka Customs foils smuggling of imported rice, ciggies, liquor worth over RM6mil
MELAKA: The Melaka Customs Department thwarted an attempt to smuggle various goods including rice, with a total value estimated at RM6.54 million for the period from January to April this year. Its director, Nadzri Che Ani said his department seized 28 containers holding 623,000kg of rice, estimated to be worth RM5.23mil including tax duty, at Port Klang, Selangor on Jan 20 and Feb 6. "A check on Customs Form 1 found that the goods were declared as 'sodium chloride' (salt) and the inspection found that each container held a total of 70 sacks of white powder (salt) and 445 sacks of rice. "The sacks containing rice were fraudulently hidden at the back and the sacks of salt were placed at the front of the container door," he said at a press conference here on Friday (June 13). Elaborating further, Nadzri said that the goods were likely imported from India for the local market and the owner of the importer company and shipping agent were detained for further investigation. He stated that rice is classified as a prohibited item under Item 25, Third Schedule/Part 1 of the Customs (Prohibition on Imports) Order 2023 and the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967. Meanwhile, he said the department also seized liquor, worth RM499,621 including duty, in raids at two locations on March 7 and April 11 in Johor Baru. "In the operation, a total of 8,585 litres of liquor were seized from three multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs). A physical inspection of the seized goods showed that the liquor had a 'Malaysian Duty Not Paid' status and was an abuse of the exemption given in the (Forest City) duty-free island area," he said. Meanwhile, Nadzri said his party also seized a total of 1.1 million cigarettes, worth RM822,800 including duties, in Muar, Johor on April 5, which were stored in an unoccupied warehouse in a durian orchard. He said the offences in all three cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967. "We also call on the public to cooperate by providing information regarding any smuggling activities by contacting the Customs toll-free line number at 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs office in all states," he said.- Bernama
