COPS, CUSTOMS COMBINE TO FIGHT SMUGGLING
Both to cooperate in battle against liquor and cigarette smugglers
POLICE and the Royal Customs Department have established five joint committees to combat smuggling at the border. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said police would cooperate with the Customs Department to fight local and international syndicates that smuggle in liquor and cigarettes.
He said the collaboration would enable them to share data as well as exchange information on matters related to crossborder smuggling.
Officers from the two agencies had undergone two days of training here to discuss the direction and roles shared by the five committees.
“Among the issues we discussed were the best ways and options to tackle crossborder crime.
“For instance, we shared strategies and information on how to coordinate and work with each other if there is a case of a drug mule.
“The Hong Kong Customs Department had arrested a Malaysian drug mule there and relayed the information to their Malaysian counterparts, who then channelled the information to us.”
Fuzi said the two worked on “different frequencies” but had their own contacts and information that could be shared to boost security.
“We have worked together in this regard before on an as-andwhen basis, but through this collaboration, we hope to strengthen security operations on both our sides,” he said after the 4th Police-Customs meeting.
Among the goods commonly smuggled across Malaysian borders were weapons, drugs, liquor, firecrackers and cigarettes,” he said.
Customs director-general Datuk Seri T. Subromaniam said his department was pleased to continue its cooperation with police in tackling smugglers, especially at entry and exit points.
“At times, our officers face high risk when they confront syndicate members and it is good if we have the police with us on some operations.
“We have identified some smuggling syndicates and noticed that mostly they operate through several layers, again posing a risk to our men.”