Johor Customs confiscated liquor and kretek cigarettes worth RM3.12 million
JOHOR BAHRU: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department of Johor State confiscated various liquor and kretek cigarettes estimated to be worth RM3.12 million through three raids here and Segamat on Nov 30 and Jan 1 last.
Its director Misbahudin Parmin said the first seizure on Nov 30 involving liquor worth RM1.74 million was carried out through the inspection of three containers at Johor Port, here.
He said the beer-type liquor believed to be smuggled from China was found in a carbonated apple juice drink box.
“The confiscated beer is worth RM234,000 with the total amount including tax duty and containers estimated at RM1.49 million,” he said at a press conference, here today.
He said merchandise such as beer required an import license from the Director General of Customs, and cases were investigated in accordance with Section 133 (1) (a) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 135 (1) (a) of the Customs Act 1967.
In a different case, Misbahudin said his party confiscated various liquor worth RM103,400 hidden in a two-storey terraced house in Desa Cemerlang, Ulu Tiram here, and also arrested a 34-year-old Bangladeshi man, on Jan 1.
“The liquor was kept in a room and the seized value was RM21,400 with the total estimated tax duty amounting to RM82,000.
“However, we are still investigating where this liquor was smuggled from and the case is being investigated in accordance with Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 74 (1) (c) of the Excise Act 1967,” he said.
Meanwhile, his party also seized 764,000 kretek cigarettes worth RM1.27 million that were found in a palm oil plantation in Kampung Pogoh Tengah in Segamat on Jan 1 last.
“The enforcement team found various brands of kretek cigarettes hidden under a canvas, it is believed to be temporarily stored in the farm before being distributed for the local market.
“The total estimated value of the confiscated goods is as much as RM275,000 with the total estimated total tax duty amounting to RM1 million,” he said.
He said the cigarettes were believed to be smuggled from Indonesia and the case was being investigated in accordance with Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967.
