PORT KLANG: The Customs Department has intercepted two separate smuggling attempts where syndicates tried to illegally import a significant quantity of alcoholic beverages concealed behind shipments of fresh vegetables.
Its Central Zone deputy director Norlela Ismail said that the department had seized three refrigerated "reefer" containers on two separate occasions, leading to a seizure of 9,691 litres of alcoholic beverages.
"On May 30, the department's Central Zone Unit II enforcement division detained two 40-foot refrigerated containers at Northport and Westport, Port Klang.
"An inspection of the containers revealed a quantity of alcoholic beverages hidden behind boxes of vegetables, believed to be without import permits.
"The trade value is estimated at RM32,000 involving a quantity of 6,408 litres of alcoholic beverages and its total duties and taxes involved are estimated at RM73,200," she told reporters at a press conference here today.
Norlela also said that another container was seized on the same day (May 30) after it was scanned at the Northport Free Zone where further inspections revealed a quantity of alcoholic beverages hidden behind boxes of vegetables placed at the front of the container.
"The trade value for the second case is estimated at RM17,700 involving a quantity of 3,283.20 litres of alcoholic beverage and its total duties and taxes involved are estimated at RM44,600.00.
"A 50-year-old Malaysian woman was also detained to assist in the investigation," she said.
On both occasions, Norlela added, the syndicates made a false declaration where the goods were declared as fresh vegetables on the customs declaration form and were earlier cleared by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis).
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited goods where importation or transit is allowed only with an import licence, as stipulated under Item 67, Part I, Third Schedule, Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.
Norlela added that investigations were still ongoing under Section 135 (1)(a) of the Customs Act 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," she said.
The seizure was among five smuggling attempts that were busted by the Customs Department within a month which included the smuggling of bonsai trees, cigarettes and electrical items.