KOTA BARU: The state Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry seized various types of controlled and smuggled items worth about RM6.8 million between January and yesterday.
Its director, Azman Ismail, said the amount comprised RM5 million worth of smuggled items, while the rest were of the controlled items.
He said the figure was based on the 1,035 cases resulting from the 79,242 operations carried out by the ministry statewide.
"The seizure of controlled items includes sugar, cooking oil and petrol, while the smuggled items that were seized include rice and flour," he said after attending a 2024 Christmas Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme walkabout here today.
Azman said the items were seized for various offences, including violations of the Price Control Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
Since early this year, he said 210 people, which comprised 189 men and 21 women, were arrested during the operation.
"The 210 comprised 197 locals and 13 foreigners and all of them have been compounded, amounting to RM150,000," he added.
Meanwhile, Azman said the ban on border crossings via illegal jetties since Dec 1 has had a positive impact on reducing smuggling activities along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
"Smuggling activities along the border still occur, but they are not as rampant as before," he said, adding that he was informed that several individuals were arrested for illegally entering Malaysia via the Golok river recently.