A photo handout shows part of the seized liquor consignment.
KUCHING: The Customs Department last week seized 1,000 boxes of Chinese bamboo leaf vodka at Senari Port here due to the use of an invalid import licence.
The department in a statement yesterday said the consignment of liquor was detected Jan 30 during a routine inspection of a container which had just arrived from overseas.
“It was found that the agent made the consignment declaration by using a liquor import licence that is believed to be invalid or in violation of the Customs (Prohibition on Import) Order 2017,” said the press statement.
It added the seized goods are worth an estimated RM129,679.20, with tax amounting to RM116,871.72
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of not less than 10 times of the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or a maximum RM500,000, or imprisonment of between six months and five years, or both, upon conviction.
The Customs Department, meanwhile, welcomes information on any smuggling activity via its toll-free hotline 1-800-88-8855 or website (http://aduan.customs.gov.my). Alternatively, visit the nearest Customs office.