KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Customs Department officers recently seized three containers of liquor valued at over RM1.5 million.
The three containers, originating from a neighbouring country, were intercepted after being detected by a scanning machine at the Sepanggar Port on April 24.
Sabah Customs assistant director-general Datuk Mohd Nasir Deraman said the containers were declared as household goods, smartphone accessories, and excavator parts.
However, upon further inspection, it was discovered that the containers contained 70,407 litres of various brands of liquor.
"All the liquor is estimated to be worth RM298,442, while the duties and taxes involved amount to over RM1.2 million.
"The smugglers were believed to have tried to avoid paying taxes and circumvent the procedures required for importing these goods," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Nsir said an operation codenamed Op Tuai was launched on May 22, covering eight districts across the state.
He said, as a result of this operation, the department seized 16,767l of liquor and 15,480 cigarettes, with a total value of RM89,617, excluding taxes.
"Additionally, the operation team seized two lorries, a van and a Perodua Viva believed to have been used for transporting the smuggled goods.
"The total value of the seizures, including the vehicles, is estimated at RM456,647," he said.
Nasir said the cases were being investigated under sections 135(1)(a) and 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, for importing and storing prohibited goods.
"Offenders can be fined not less than 10 times the duty amount or RM100,000, whichever is greater, and not more than 20 times the customs duty amount or RM500,000, whichever is greater.
"Offenders can also be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than six months or not more than five years, or both," he said.
Nasir emphasised that smuggling activities not only result in revenue loss for the country but also pose a threat to national security and public welfare.
He urged the public to cooperate by providing information on any smuggling activities through the Customs Department toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855.