SIBU: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department Sarawak (Sarawak Customs) seized contraband goods estimated to be worth RM2.3 million, inclusive of unpaid duties.
Sarawak Customs’ Director, Datuk Norizan Yahya, said the seizure of contraband cigarettes, liquor and frozen goods were done at three different locations here from July 30 to 31.
In the first case, the department acted on information received and seized 1.2 million cigarettes and 3,294 litres of liquor from an abandoned shophouse at Lorong Tunku Abdul Rahman 29A at about 9:20 am on July 30.
“The modus operandi for this case was to store the goods for the local market,” said Norizan during a press conference at the Customs Department here today.
In the second case, in a raid conducted at about 9:40 am on July 30 on an unoccupied house at Lorong Kong Yit Khim, Norizan said his party seized 800,000 cigarettes and 4,625 litres of liquor.
“Case number three; on July 31 at about 8:30 am, acting on information received from the public, a team of officers from Sarawak Customs’ Sibu enforcement and operations unit raided a warehouse at Jalan Then Kung Suk which was used as a storage facility for duty-free cigarettes and frozen goods. Our team seized 64,524 kilogrammes of frozen goods and 792 litres of liquor,” he said.
Norizan said the three cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
This section provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both if convicted.
“The public is urged to assist Sarawak Customs in combating smuggling crimes, especially cigarettes, alcohol, firecrackers, drugs, vehicles and others, and is advised not to be involved in such activities.
“Smuggling not only harms the country in terms of revenue loss, but also threatens national security and the well-being of the people,” he stressed.
The public is also advised to cooperate by providing information related to smuggling activities by contacting the Customs Toll-Free Line at 1-800-88-8855.
