Nearly RM1mil worth of illicit cigarettes, alcohol seized by Perak Customs

IPOH: Nearly RM1mil worth of contraband cigarettes and alcohol were seized during three raids in Perak and Johor by the Perak Customs Department.

Perak Customs Department director Datuk Abdul Ghafar Mohamad said the three raids also saw three men detained.

“The first raid was conducted at an empty house in Chemor on Dec 4 at about 9.20pm.

“We found 646,800 sticks of cigarettes and kretek (clove cigarettes) of various brands worth RM420,940 inside the house, which we believed are contrabands,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 13).

Abdul Ghafar said in the second raid in Gopeng on Dec 6, the department detained a man and seized about 1,859 litres of liquor worth about RM57,276.

“The 22-year-old man is the owner of a shop next to the premises we raided.

“We took his statement to help with the investigations,” he said.

Abdul Ghafar said the third raid was conducted at a house in Johor Baru on Dec 7 at about 10.30am.

“Upon entering the house, we found 701,000 pieces of cigarettes and kretek from various brands worth about RM469,802.

“We also arrested two men, aged 34 and 46, at the house to facilitate investigations,” he said, adding that the two suspects were friends.

The cases, he said, were being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act.

Offenders can be fined 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, or jailed between six months and five years, or both upon conviction.

Abdul Ghafar urged the public to help the department fight the smuggling of cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, drugs, vehicles and advised them not to get involved in such activities.

“Smuggling not only harms the country in terms of revenue losses but could also pose a threat to national security and the well-being of the people.

“The public can cooperate by channelling any information related to smuggling by calling the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855, or the nearest Customs offices in all states,” he said, adding that the identity of all informants would be kept confidential.