Customs raids premises suspected of selling contrabands

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Some of the contraband items seized by the enforcement unit of Customs Department in Miri recently.

MIRI: The enforcement unit of the Malaysian Royal Customs Department here recently raided a premises suspected of selling various kinds of contrabands.

In a press statement yesterday, its state director Datuk Sharifah Haliman Tuanku Taha said a man was arrested during the raid to assist in the investigation of contrabands with estimated value of RM10,559.14 and unpaid tax of RM58,510.06.

The seized items included 62,144 cigarettes and 751.48 litres of various kinds of alcoholic beverages.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, Customs seized a ‘box lorry’ loaded with 631,360 sticks of cigarettes and 6,655.25 litres of various kinds of alcohol with estimated value of around RM154,739.57 and unpaid duty of RM661,992.08.

The department said they had received tip-off that contraband cigarettes were being sold at Bandar Baru Permyjaya here, and despatched the enforcement unit to raid the suspected premises on around 10am June 10.

The man who was arrested was suspected to be selling the contraband items at the premises, which he also used as a space to store the goods.

The case is investigated under Section 135 of Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000 whichever is higher or jail term of not less than six months and not more than five years or both.

The Customs Department urged the public to inform them if they know of smuggling activities by calling their toll-free line 1-800-88-8855 or through their website http://aduan.customs.gov.my. The public can also call 082-472080 or fax to 082-440311 or post the information on Facebook Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia, Sarawak or email to [email protected] or contact the nearest Customs office.

It said informers’ identity will be treated as private and confidential.