KUCHING, Aug 20 — The Sarawak branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) seized undeclared cigarettes with a total value, including tax evaded, estimated at RM11,880,000 in a raid on a warehouse in Demak Industrial Park last month.
Its director Norizan Yahya said a team from the Land Operations Unit and the headquarters' intelligence branch also arrested a man in his 50s, believed to be the warehouse manager, in the July 29 raid at 4pm.
“An inspection revealed various brands of cigarettes believed to have been brought in from Indonesia as prohibited goods stored in the premises.
“The seizure was estimated at RM3.6 million while total duty and tax was RM8.28 million, making the total seizure worth RM11.88 million,” he said during a press conference today.
Norizan added that cigarettes are categorised as prohibited goods under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023 where importation requires a permit.
The syndicate’s modus operandi was to conceal contraband in premises storing licensed goods before transporting the prohibited goods elsewhere.
The investigation is being conducted under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for concealing uncustomed goods, which carries a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or imprisonment for a period of five years or both, if convicted.
