KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is on the trail of a Singaporean national believed to be the mastermind behind a smuggling ring in Port Klang which evaded tax of RM3.5 billion over a decade.
"The mastermind is overseas on holiday with his family," said a source.
The source said MACC has frozen nine bank accounts owned by a company involved in the smuggling ring and individuals connected to the syndicate.
Earlier, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests of seven people, including three Royal Malaysian Customs Department officers in connection to the smuggling ring.
Others arrested include the managing director and three employees of a company.
MACC has obtained remand orders for all seven suspects. The suspects in their 30s to 50s were remanded for three days.
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.