Contraband cigarettes worth RM25m seized

> Customs foil two smuggling attempts in Johor

JOHOR BARU: Johor Customs foiled two attempts to smuggle in contraband cigarettes valued at RM25.84 million inclusive of taxes at Jalan Kempas Lama and at the container inspection area in Pasir Gudang Port respectively this month.

Johor Customs director Datuk Ramli Johari believes this could be the biggest haul so far this year.

Relating their success, he said, acting on a tip off, their enforcement officers checked two containers at the container inspection area in Pasir Gudang Port on April 13 at about 7pm, which was declared as “wooden panel and polythylene resin”.

Upon checking the containers, they found 117,200 cartons of the brand U2 Full Flavour and kretek cigarettes, valued at RM2.031 million, minus taxes which would have amounted to RM11.55 million.

Ramli said they have detained a 42year-old man who claimed he was the agent for the consignments.

On April 3 at about 11.30pm, an enforcement team raided an empty factory on Jalan Kempas Lama and found two containers and a lorry parked in the factory compound loaded with 104,000 cartons of John White cigarettes valued at RM12.258 million inclusive of taxes.

Ramli said they are tracking down the suspect or suspects involved as they believe the cigarettes were for the local market.

The cases are being investigated under Section 133(1)(iii)(aa) of the Customs Act 1967 for false declaration, which carries a maximum three years’ jail or a fine or both.