Customs seize over RM10.87mil in contraband between July-November

PORT KLANG: The Customs Department thwarted smuggling activities involving various commodities between July and November, worth over RM10.87 million in estimated value and duties/taxes.

Customs Central Zone assistant director-general Norlela Ismail said the seizures involved commodities worth RM8.54 million, along with duties and taxes amounting to RM2.33 million.

The goods from four seizures included snuff tobacco, kretek and cheap white cigarettes, e-waste, and Basmati rice.

The snuff tobacco was found when Customs officers inspected a mixed items container at West Port.

"Initial investigations revealed that no import permit was available for the (snuff tobacco)," said Norlela in a press conference at the North Port Klang Customs Office today.

"The seized quantity amounted to 3,000kg, with an estimated trade value of RM6,796,050. The duties and taxes involved were valued at RM1,648,270," she added.

The cigarettes were seized when Customs officers, acting on intelligence, raided three unoccupied premises in Kajang and Bandar Sri Damansara.

The first raid on Oct 22 at a shophouse led to the seizure of 90,000 white cigarettes.

The second and third raids, at Bandar Sri Damansara on Oct 25 and Kajang on Nov 8 respectively, led to the seizure of 342,652 white cigarettes and 296,120 kretek cigarettes.

"For all three raids, the total seized quantity was 728,972 cigarettes, with an estimated market value of RM124,129.00 and duty and taxes amounting to RM484,674," said Norlela.

The e-waste was seized when Customs detained 13 containers at West Port marked as containing aluminium alloys in early September.

According to Norlela, the importation of e-waste requires approval under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, written approval from the Department of Environment, and a prohibited items permit from the Customs director-general.

"The total seized quantity is 300,000kg of e-waste, with an estimated trade value of RM1,500,000.00. The duty and taxes involved are estimated at RM150,000," she said.

The Basmati rice was seized when Customs detained a container at the Free Zone in West Port.

"An inspection of the container found 18,500kg of rice with an estimated value of RM121,000.00 and estimated duties and taxes amounting to RM48,400," Norlela said.

Investigations revealed the container, which carried a mix of Basmati rice, cashew nuts, and other dried goods, did not possess an import permit from Padiberas Nasional Berhad, Norlela said.

All cases were still under investigation, she added.