KUALA LUMPUR:The Customs Department foiled separate attempts to smuggle illicit cigarettes and shisha tobacco at the Free Commercial Zone at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport since Sept 13.
A team from its central zone enforcement also joined an operation which seized liquor with fake tax stamps at two premises here on two separate raids.
All items seized during these operations were worth RM1.76 million inclusive of its tax amount.
The department's central zone enforcement director Zulkifli Muhammad said in the first case, it seized 804,000 illicit cigarettes at a cargo terminal operator at the Free Commercial Zone at KLIA at about 12.10pm on Monday.
"It is believed they were for export to Australia based on the final address in the manifest. The items seized are worth RM80,400 and involve duty and taxes amounting to RM538,400.
"Initial investigations found the illicit cigarettes did not have any document stating their taxes were paid when the items arrived in Malaysia.
"The modus operandi of the syndicate is to declare the items as raincoats and cigarette in the invoice and to use cargo delivery to avoid detection," he said.
In a separate operation at about 6pm on Sept 13, a team conducting its daily checks at the CTO at the KLIA Free Commercial Zonefound 84 master cases containing 500,800 illicit cigarettes and 63 master cases containing old newspapers in four trade pallets.
Zulkifi said the items enter Free Commericial Zone without valid permits and used cargo delivery declared as clothes and jeans. The value of seized items was RM50,080 involving duty and taxes amounting to RM335,536.
In the third case, he said a check at the same location at about 4.20pm yesterday led to the seizure of 3,000kg of shisha tobacco worth RM405,000 with RM313,863 in duties and taxes amounting to import the item without permit.
"The syndicate used the modus operandi of using the trade declaration as 'AF Molasses' in the manifest document and used cargo delivery service to avoid detection."
In another case, the Customs Department and police raided two business premises in Kuala Lumpur under Op Royal 2024 and seized 323.61 litres of liquor with fake tax stamps.
The liquor valued at RM7,300 involved a tax of RM32,200.
"The department detained two Malaysians in their 40s at separate premises. They are the premises owners.
"The case is investigated under the Customs Act 1957 for importing any illegal goods under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the items or RM100,000, whichever is higher; and not more than 20 times the value to items or RM500,000, whichever is higher or a prison term of not less than six months and not more than five months or both."