KULAI, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Johor police seized RM1.7 million worth of counterfeit liquor and related items in two separate raids in Kulai and Senai on Feb 3, dismantling a syndicate involved in bottling and storing untaxed alcohol.
Johor police chief CP Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the raids were carried out between 2pm and 3.30pm by personnel from the 5th Battalion of the General Operations Force (GOF) Simpang Renggam following intelligence gathering.
In the first raid at premises in Taman Mewah, Kulai, believed to be used for bottling counterfeit liquor, police arrested two Myanmar men and a Myanmar woman aged between 20 and 30.
Officers seized three 200-litre drums containing alcohol concentrate and several modified drums filled with liquid suspected to be blended counterfeit liquor.
Police also confiscated a 1,000-litre drum containing about 500 litres of suspected counterfeit liquor, colouring and caramel flavouring agents, an alcohol measuring device, a water pump and a bottle-capping machine.
Additionally, 203 boxes of assorted liquor brands, 50 boxes of empty bottles, 1,100 bottle caps and suspected fake customs and brand labels were seized.
A subsequent raid at Taman Senai Utama, believed to be used as a storage facility for untaxed liquor, led to the arrest of a 26-year-old local man.
During the second operation, police confiscated 414 boxes of various liquor brands and a Toyota Hiace van with its keys and remote control.
Ab Rahaman said the counterfeit liquor was believed to have been sold locally at between RM50 and RM60 per bottle, mainly targeting foreign customers, and that police have identified the syndicate’s suspected processing site in Johor.
He said the seizures comprised RM923,500 worth of liquor, RM665,045 in unpaid taxes, RM8,100 in equipment and RM80,000 for the vehicle, with all suspects remanded until Feb 12 as investigations proceed under the Customs Act 1967, Excise Act 1976 and Immigration Act 1959/63.
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
