Fake plates, duty-free booze: Man held in JB raid
JOHOR BARU: A man allegedly running a solo operation to store and distribute untaxed alcoholic beverages was arrested during a police raid at a house in Taman Mount Austin last Wednesday.
Johor Baru (South) police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the 10.30am raid was conducted with the Bukit Aman Federal Reserve Unit intelligence division, resulting in the seizure of over 185 cartons of canned beers worth RM316,595.87.
Police also confiscated two luxury multipurpose vehicles (MPV) valued at RM195,000.
Both vehicles were fitted with fake registration plates, believed to be used to evade detection.
"Initial investigations revealed the suspect had been operating for six months, sourcing duty-free alcohol from Forest City in Iskandar Puteri and reselling it to retail outlets and customers around the state capital," he said at a press conference today.
Raub said the rented RM3,000-per-month property was used as a storage facility, while the MPVs served as transport and cover for deliveries.
The suspect tested negative for drugs and has no prior criminal record.
He said the suspect sold the beers at market prices, despite sourcing it from tax-free outlets in Forest City.
The duty-free outlets there sold untaxed beer cans at RM6, however the suspect resold them at RM12.
He was remanded for 14 days until May 21. Samples of the seized alcohol were sent to the Chemistry Department and Customs for analysis.
The case is investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for possessing prohibited goods without approval and Section 108(3)(f) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for using false number plates.
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