KUCHING: The Sarawak Customs Department has made one of its largest seizures of duty-not-paid cigarettes, confiscating RM12.64 million worth of contraband in a raid along Jalan Semaba Batu 5 last month.
Its director Norizan Yahya said the operation, based on a tip-off, was carried out at around 9.30 am on Feb 12.
“The team raided an unnumbered premises in a remote area and discovered 16,656,000 sticks of assorted cigarettes kept inside.
“The cigarettes are valued at RM1,499,040, with unpaid duties and taxes estimated at RM11,142,864. Also seized was a RM80,000 lorry suspected to be used for transporting the contraband,” he said at Wisma Kastam this morning (Mar 26).
In addition, a 44-year-old local man was arrested in connection with the case and will be charged in court.
Norizan pointed out that the modus operandi involved to use the premises as a storage hub to store contraband goods before distributing them across Kuching and other districts.
“We are investigating how the cigarettes were brought into the state, but we suspect they were smuggled via various entry ports by air and sea.
“There is also reason to believe the syndicate falsely declared these goods as textiles and others to avoid detection.
“Cigarettes are a conditionally prohibited item, requiring an import permit under Item 1, Third Schedule, Part II of the Customs (Prohibition on Imports) Order 2023,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a fine of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment for a term of up to five years or both, upon conviction.
Aside from that, the case will be investigated under Section 74(1)(a) of the Excise Act 1976, which provides for a fine up to 20 times the amount of excise duty or RM500,000, or imprisonment for a term of up to five years or both, upon conviction.
Norizan urged the public to assist the Customs Department in combating smuggling crimes involving cigarettes, liquor, fireworks, drugs, vehicles and others.
“Smuggling not only causes revenue losses for the country but also poses a threat to national security and public well-being,” he said.
