SEREMBAN: Customs have seized chewing tobacco products worth almost RM1mil, including duties and taxes, in a raid at Westport, Klang.
State Customs director Muhammad Ilyas Queek Abdullah said the contraband was seized during an operation on March 1.
"My men had intercepted a container containing products, which, based on the information we received, had been fraudulently declared.
"Upon inspection, we found 72 boxes containing almost 175kg of tobacco products and another 318 boxes containing 2,862kg of chewing tobacco," he said, adding that the container was shipped in from India.
He said the seized contraband was worth some RM580,000, while the unpaid duties and taxes totalled almost RM396,000.
"We have also arrested a suspect to assist in investigations," he said.
Muhammad llyas said the case was being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act.
Offenders can be fined 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, or jailed between six months and five years, or both upon conviction.
He appealed to anyone with information on smuggling activities, including illicit drugs, tobacco and alcoholic beverages, to contact the department at 1800-88-8855.
The identity of the informant would be kept confidential, he added.
