KOTA KINABALU: Over RM3mil in contraband has been busted in various locations here in the past month, says the state Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
Smuggled cigarettes and beer stored in separate places were confiscated between Sept 26 and Oct 1, said state assistant director-general Siti Mang in a statement on Monday (Oct 28).
She said the first raid was conducted at an inhabited premise used as a storage hub at Jalan N.C. Mogunting, Kampung Hubah, Penampang near here at around 5pm on Sept 26.
“There, we found a total of 214,000 packets of cigarettes valued around RM428,000 with over RM2.86mil in unpaid taxes stored,” she said, adding they believe these items were meant to be sold in the local market.
No suspect was arrested at that operation, and investigations on the syndicate behind are still ongoing.
In the second raid, customs officials nabbed three people from three premises in downtown Bandaran Berjaya, Kota Kinabalu, which were raided between 8pm and 8.30pm on Sept 30, Siti said.
She said in the first raid, a 61-year-old man was arrested after 429 cans of beer worth RM542.59, with tax value of RM2185.73 were found in his store.
Next was the arrest of a 41-year-old woman after eight cartons of beer valued at RM203.75 and a tax value of RM833.50 were seized from her shop.
“The third raid saw our officials confiscating another eight cartons of beer worth RM234.68, with a tax value of RM930.44 from another premise, with a 50-year-old woman hauled in to facilitate investigations,” said Siti.
All of these suspects were believed to be selling alcohol with unpaid duties at their premises, she said.
On Oct 1, a raid was made on a transport company compound, from which three trucks filled with cartons of beer were seized, she said.
Siti said two people, a truck driver and his assistant, were nabbed to assist in investigations.
She said they found a total of 1,830 cartons of beer worth RM55,852.51 with unpaid duties of RM228,479.50 in the trucks.
“We suspect these trucks are used to ferry and send the smuggled alcohol to intended customers,” she said.
Siti urged the public to refrain from buying contraband or committing offences under the Customs Act.
She said those with information of any wrongdoings or suspicious activities to contact the Customs toll-free number at 1-800-88-8855, or to visit their nearest Customs Department office to provide details.
