Four nabbed in Lundu for bid to smuggle controlled items
The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry ( MDTCC) with cooperation from the police and other enforcement agencies are closely monitoring the state borders to prevent controlled items from being smuggled to neighbouring countries.
MDTCC state enforcement chief Abdul Hafidz A Rahim revealed that an ‘Ops Manis’ operation conducted jointly by his ministry and Bukit Aman Police Socio- economy Investigation Department ( E5) in Kuching and Lundu on April 4 uncovered the existence of what they believe to be a syndicate responsible for smuggling controlled items such as coarse sugar, cooking oil and wheat flour to Indonesia.
Abdul Hafidz said the operation, which was conducted after four months of surveillance by E5, resulted in the arrest of four individuals and seizure two vans near the Lundu Customs and Immigration Quarantine ( CIQ) complex after they were found to have attempted to smuggle the said items out of the state.
It then led enforcement officers to a sundry shop in Lundu where they discovered the shop owner had stored 400 kilogrammes ( kg) of coarse sugar, 300kg of cooking oil and 25kg of wheat flour, which was more than what was permitted in the licence.
“We also raided a storage place in Kpg Bagak in Lundu, where we found nine tonnes of coarse sugar and 48kg sugar from another brand. We believe there is a link between the sundry shop, the storage place and the vans.
“We also received information that there is another area in Kpg Biawak where 384kg of sugar is stored there without licence. We also found 23 tonnes of sugar in a warehouse in Kuching, which is the wholesaler for the Lundu area.”
Abdul Hafidz said: “We will investigate the chain. All the sections (in the chain) will be held responsible. We will also investigate the wholesaler who supplied the 23 tonnes of sugar to the warehouse in Kuching because they are not the main wholesaler.”
The estimated amount of controlled goods sized during the operation was RM107,453.80 which consisted of RM52,667.80 for coarse sugar, RM886 for cooking oil, RM186 for wheat flour, RM13,900 for LPG Gas and RM40,000 for two vans.
Abdul Hafidz added that the controlled items discovered during the raids had either exceeded what was stipulated in the licence or stored without licence strongly suggested that these places were used as transit before the goods were smuggled to neighbouring countries.
“If we look at the current scenario, sugar price in Malaysia is RM2.95 per kg after the price adjustment recently but in Entikong, Indonesia for example, the price of sugar is between 12,000 rupiah and 15,000 rupiah which is RM3.99 (for 12,000 rupiah). There is RM1.05 difference in the price of sugar and this will encourage smuggling.
He said companies and individuals apprehended during the operation are being investigated under Supply Control Act 1961.
“I will also report to the MDTCC headquarter so that their (individuals or companies) licence be withdrawn so that we can stop the smuggling acitivities.”
Abdul Hafidz explained that sugar can only be exported with permission and permit issued by the controller.
“We have started (our operation) on April 4 and we will conduct more raids after this. I would like to remind the smugglers that they will not be able to escape because the police have detected a few areas that we will raid. We will work with the police and also involve our officers from Putrajaya.”
He also urged those who are licensed to supply controlled items to abide by the terms and regulations as stipulated in the licence.