KUALA LUMPUR: Three Royal Malaysian Customs Department officers were among seven people arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over a probe into a smuggling ring which evaded tax of RM3.5 billion over a decade.
According to a source, others arrested include the managing director and three employees of a company.
MACC has obtained remand orders for all seven suspects, which include two women.
The suspects are in their 30s to 50s.
The arrests follow the authorities' crippling of the syndicate which operated in Port Klang for over a decade.
The syndicate, believed to be masterminded by a foreign national, operated more than 10 forwarding companies to smuggle imported goods by making false tax declarations.
Authorities estimate that the syndicate handled around 3,000 containers a month.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the authorities found taxable items including LED and solar lights as well as canned pork in containers which were declared as containing wheelchairs and commodes.
Aside from being taxable, the items smuggled in require import permits from several bodies including the Energy Commission (ST) and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (Maqis).
Investigations are being carried out under the MACC Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act, Customs Act and several other laws under the Inland Revenue Board's jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, when contacted, contacted the arrests.