MACC probes port smuggling ring

KUALA LUMPUR: Two people have been remanded for four days to assist in investigations on smuggling activities uncovered in Port Klang.

The remand until Saturday was granted by the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

In a recent special operation in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, a special task force led by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained 19 container lorries suspected of carrying various types of smuggled goods.

According to sources, initial investigations revealed that the syndicate owned more than 10 forwarding companies that were used to smuggle imported goods by submitting false tax declarations.

“The investigation conducted over three months found that the modus operandi involved using various forwarding companies registered under names of individuals unaware of the import and export transactions.

“This was done to deceive the authorities and enable syndicate members to evade any action against them by claiming they had no connection to the said companies,” said a source.

The syndicate is believed to be led by a foreigner, with its main office located overseas and which has operated for over 10 years.

“It is estimated that this syndicate manages about 3,000 containers per month. The estimated tax evasion for the 10 years of operation amounts to RM3.5bil based on a minimum tax of RM7,000 for each container.

“To avoid taxation, the syndicate made false declarations using Customs Form 9 by declaring it as non-taxable items such as wheelchairs and medical supplies,” said the source.

The investigation also revealed that these “flying containers” would enter the Public Licensed Warehouse at North Port for only 10 to 15 minutes to deceive the authorities, with the containers not undergoing proper customs inspection, and were then distributed throughout the country.

Confirming the remand order, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki pledged a thorough investigation under the MACC Act 2009, Anti-Money Laundering Act, Customs Act 1965 and Inland Revenue Board Act.

“MACC welcomes the cooperation of the Customs director-general and hopes that department heads will take similar steps to curb corruption and losses within their agencies.

“We have identified the individuals involved, including the mastermind who is believed to be overseas, the company owners, forwarding agents and Customs officers colluding with this syndicate, and will detain them in the near future.

“We will also seek assistance from foreign agencies to obtain information on the accounts owned by the mastermind so that action can be taken,” he said.

Collaboration between the MACC, Customs and the Inland Revenue Board uncovered the activities of the largest smuggling syndicate at Port Klang.

It was previously reported that the MACC had dismantled a smuggling and tax evasion syndicate at the KL International Airport Terminal (KLIA) Cargo in Sepang, with the total amounting to RM2bil in the past three years.