792 smuggling cases recorded this year — Marine Police Region 5

KUCHING: The Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 ( PPMW5) has recorded a total of 792 smuggling cases from Jan to Nov this year as compared to only 300 cases in the same period last year.

PPMW5 commander ACP Shamsol Kassim told a press conference Friday that among the highest recorded cases are those under the Forest Ordinance 2015 (42 cases); Customs Act 1967 (38); Fisheries Act 1985 (32); Supplies Act 1961 (27) and the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (nine).

“We will continue to enhance our patrols during this festive season as we believe that the movements of taxable goods will increase,” said Shamsol.

He also informed that PPMW5 had seized goods worth RM7.4 million (including tax) under the Customs Act 1967 from Jan to Nov this year.

Operations to weed out smuggling of goods especially cigarettes and alcohol, he added, is vital to improve the country’s collection of sin tax.

“Besides PPMW5, other agencies are also on the forefront to tackle these smuggling issues,” he said.

He also said PPMW5 is planning to hold a bilateral meeting to launch a joint operation with other security agencies sometime next year. Through a joint operation, the authorities, he said, will be able to monitor the smuggling hotspots in the state more effectively – especially in towns or cities where there are seaports.

“The flow of smuggling activities is like that, it will most likely occur in major towns with the availability of a seaport,” he added.

The joint operation is also an approach for PPMW5 to overcome their manpower shortage.