MELAKA: The state Customs Department here confiscated 264 electric bicycles worth about RM743,000, including tax, which were imported without a valid licence at a vehicle supply company in the Tasik Utama Industrial Park at Ayer Keroh on Feb 27.
Melaka Customs director Norlela Ismail said the electric bicycles were seized after discovering that the import licence obtained by the company from the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry was declared as bicycle parts by the owner of the company involved in importing fully-assembled electric bicycles.
"The owner in his 50s was also detained to assist in investigations during the raid.
"Preliminary investigations found that the company had been in operation for five years and the electric bicycles were imported from China and brought in through Port Klang Port," she said during a press conference here on Wednesday (May 10).
Norlela added that her team conducted intelligence for six months before the raid was executed based on tip-offs.
"The electric bicycles are sold at between RM1,000 and RM1,500 each and the raid is the first in Melaka,” she said.