PERAK CUSTOMS FOIL FIVE SMUGGLING ATTEMPTS INVOLVING GOODS WORTH RM2.4 MLN

IPOH, April 1 (Bernama) -- The Perak branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM)  has foiled five attempts to smuggle various goods, including electric bicycles, with an estimated total value of RM2.4 million, inclusive of duties and taxes, in raids conducted at several locations in January and February.

Perak JKDM director Mohd Nadzri Ariffin said on Jan 14, the Teluk Intan JKDM Enforcement Branch detained a container at Port Klang, Selangor, and further inspection uncovered 801 cartons of porcelain tiles that had been falsely declared as cement tiles.

He said the total seizure value, including duties and taxes, was estimated at RM964,290 and that following the discovery, a 35-year-old man was arrested.

In a separate operation, Mohd Nadzri said on Jan 27, his team detained another container at Port Klang and found 765 sacks of rice weighing 22.9 tonnes.

“Checks on customs documentation revealed that the goods were declared as dhal beans, estimated to be worth RM307,316.40,” he said at a press conference here today.

He said a man in his 70s was arrested to assist in investigations in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, Mohd Nadzri said on Feb 12, the Ipoh Enforcement Division inspected two containers at Port Klang and discovered 49,343 kilogrammes of frozen meat products, namely pork and chicken, which had been declared as frozen dumplings.

He said the estimated value, including duties and taxes, amounted to RM645,573.87.

He added that on Feb 9, the Pengkalan Hulu Enforcement Branch inspected two containers at Port Klang and found 418 units of electric bicycles suspected to have been falsely declared.

“A manager of the importing company was arrested to assist in further investigations,” he said, adding that the seized goods were estimated to be worth RM358,244.27.

On Jan 21, the Pengkalan Hulu Enforcement Branch also inspected a lorry along Jalan Lenggong-Gerik and found rice being smuggled into the country from a neighbouring country without a permit via illegal routes or unauthorised entry points.

Following this, a 28-year-old lorry driver and his 30-year-old assistant were arrested for further investigation under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967, involving duties and taxes estimated at RM125,126.

-- BERNAMA