POLICE SEIZE RM1 MLN WORTH OF UNTAXED LIQUOR, CIGARETTES IN SUBANG JAYA

SHAH ALAM, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- Police seized untaxed liquor and cigarettes valued at around RM1 million in Subang Jaya during a raid yesterday morning.

State police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the operation, dubbed Op Kontraban, was conducted at around 6.30 am following intelligence on the storage and sale of contraband liquor in the area.

He said surveillance by the operations team detected the unloading of boxes believed to contain liquor from a bonded lorry to a premises, prompting a raid to be carried out.

“Following the raid, police arrested two foreign men aged 25 and 35. Further inspection of the premises uncovered various types of untaxed liquor and cigarettes, along with two lorries believed to have been used for distribution.

“The seizure involved a total of 17,972 bottles and 2,796 cans of alcoholic beverages of various brands, as well as 450 cartons of cigarettes, with an estimated value of RM1,009,174. The seized vehicles are valued at RM214,000, bringing the total value of the seizures to RM1,223,174,” he said in a statement today.

Shazeli said initial investigations found that the premises had been used as a storage facility for about five months, with supplies targeted for the Subang Jaya market and fake customs labels used to evade enforcement action.

“The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1963,” he said.

Shazeli said the seized items were believed to be intended to meet market demand ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.

“The Selangor Police will continue to intensify efforts to combat the smuggling of untaxed goods, which affect national revenue and public safety,” he said.

--BERNAMA