Datuk Zulkurnain Mohamed Yusuf
PETALING JAYA: The Royal Malaysian Customs detained a man and seized cigarettes and alcoholic drinks worth an estimated RM3.6 million including taxes at Port Klang, last Friday.
Central Zone Customs assistant director-general Datuk Zulkurnain Mohamed Yusuf said the 36-year- old lorry driver was arrested at 12.30 a.m. in a Customs Department operations.
He said the operations found discrepancies in the items inside when compared with the contents declared. “Checks found that the container contained 22,500 carton of white cigarettes and 1,224 carton of Heineken beer believed to be contraband,” he said in a media conference here yesterday.
Initial investigations found that the cigarettes and beer had been brought in from a neighbouring country for the local market.
“The cigarettes were normally sold at RM5 to RM6 ringgit per pack, much cheaper that the normal price,” he said.
The suspect is now remanded for seven days for further investigation.
“We are still investigating if the driver arrested had any direct connection with the smugglers,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1 )(a) Customs Code 1967 for importing without a legal permit. — Bernama