RM2mil fireworks seized
20-tonne stash found at Ipoh gated community
IPOH: The year 2018 ended with a “bang” for the Perak Customs Department when it made its biggest haul with some 20 tonnes of illegal fireworks.
State Customs assistant director (enforcement) Datuk Azimah Abd Hamid said the fireworks had a market value of about RM2mil.
She said the fireworks were seized during a raid on a double-storey house at a gated community in Lahat here at 9pm on Dec 27.
“When we entered the premises, the entire ground floor was filled with the fireworks. There were about 640 boxes of them.
“We’ve also arrested a 37-yearold man,” she told reporters at the state Customs Department headquarters here yesterday.
“The man is being remanded for eight days and will be charged soon.
“The fireworks are believed to be for the New Year’s Eve and the coming Chinese New Year celebration,” said Azimah.
She said those found guilty of possessing fireworks could be fined up to 20 times the value of the items or jailed three years or both.
“If it is a second offence, those found guilty can be fined up to 40 times the value of the items or jailed five years or both,” she said.
The department, said Azimah, also seized 170,168 litres of alcohol and 18 million sticks of cigarettes last year.
She said the alcohol was valued at RM1.1mil with an excise duty of RM3.9mil, while the cigarettes were worth RM1.3mil with an excise duty of about RM11mil.
Azimah urged the public to alert the department if they have any information on smuggling activities at 05-527 2010 or toll-free number 1-300-888-500.