JOHOR BARU: Two men who tried to smuggle out liquor from the Forest City duty-free complex on April 15 were arrested by Customs officers after a high-speed chase.
The officers seized RM38,410 worth of liquor from three multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) used by the smugglers.
Customs deputy director-general (Enforcement and Compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad said the officers had radioed in their concerns about the three MPVs, which used alternative routes to exit the duty-free complex about 9pm.
They move swiftly in pursuit of the vehicles. The MPVs were boxed in at Lebuh Raya Iskandar Puteri and in Jalan Utama in Kampung Baru Senai about 10pm.
Two of the drivers were detained, Sazali told a press conference at Menara Kastam, here, today. Another driver, however, abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot.
He added that the MPVs were fitted with false registration numbers, and the department is now tracing the vehicles' registered owners.
The two drivers have been released on RM10,000 bail each.
The 'New Straits Times' had on Jan 5 reported that smuggling agents were approaching potential customers at the duty-free stores in Forest City in Gelang Patah.
They would try to strike a deal to smuggle goods out of the complex.