Latest news with #PerlisCustoms
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Frozen chickens: RM880,000 tax fraud attempt stopped at Padang Besar checkpoint
KANGAR: The Customs Department foiled a tax and halal certificate fraud attempt involving 55,572kg of frozen chicken worth more than RM880,000 after intercepting two lorries that had attempted to re-enter Malaysia late last month. The incident occurred around 3.20pm on July 26 when officers stopped the lorries at the Padang Besar Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQs) Complex as they tried to re-enter the country, despite being declared as outbound to Thailand. Perlis Customs director Ismail Hashim said the scam was detected when officers inspected the Customs declaration forms submitted by the lorry drivers. "In this case, the parties involved misused Customs Form K1, which is meant for imported goods, by declaring the frozen chicken as imports from Thailand. "However, earlier observations revealed that they had actually used Form K8, which is for goods in transit. The goods came from Penang and were supposedly en route to Thailand," he told reporters at the Perlis Customs office today. He said the drivers were caught turning back into Malaysia while presenting Form K1 at the checkpoint, falsely declaring that the chicken was imported from the neighbouring country. Ismail said the false declaration was made to obtain a 20 per cent import tax exemption typically granted to goods originating from Southeast Asian countries. "The goods were turned around directly at the checkpoint and re-entered Malaysia. This clearly shows an attempt to evade import duties by manipulating the declaration process," he said. Investigations also found that the origin of the frozen chicken was not Thailand, as claimed, but another Asian nation not eligible for the Asean import tax exemption. Ismail said five individuals, including the lorry drivers, agents and the importer, have been detained to assist investigations. "They are being probed for offences including falsifying the country of origin, attempting to evade import duties, and failing to produce valid halal certification. "If the goods were truly from Thailand, they would be accompanied by halal certification and veterinary documents, as required by regulations," he said. Frozen chicken imports are subject to a permit under Item 1, Part I, Third Schedule of the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023. The seized goods, weighing a total of 55,572kg, are valued at RM883,580, with estimated unpaid taxes amounting to RM166,716. Authorities also confiscated the two lorries involved, valued at about RM240,000. The case is being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a penalty of up to RM500,000, imprisonment for up to seven years, or both upon conviction.
New Straits Times
25-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Customs seizes RM2mil cannabis from abandoned car at Malaysia-Thai border
PADANG BESAR: A routine inspection near the Malaysia-Thailand border led to the seizure of more than RM2 million worth of cannabis by Customs officers along Jalan Sadao last week. The 11.30am operation on June 19 saw an enforcement team spot a suspicious vehicle parked by the roadside near the Malaysian-side border gate. Perlis Customs director Ismail Hashim said checks on the Malaysian-registered car uncovered several black plastic bags placed underneath the vehicle. "A more thorough inspection of the car also revealed two backpacks left on the back seat. Inside the bags and plastic packages, officers found 40 vacuum-sealed transparent packets containing dried plant matter believed to be cannabis flowers. "The total weight of the drugs is estimated at 22.855kg, with a street value of RM2,285,500," he told reporters at the Padang Besar Customs Enforcement Office today. Preliminary investigations revealed that the car had been left at the location for about an hour prior to the inspection. Authorities believe the case is linked to a cross-border smuggling syndicate operating internationally. Ismail said the group's modus operandi involved smuggling cannabis from Thailand, leaving it in parked vehicles near the border, and having the drugs collected by local runners for distribution throughout Peninsular Malaysia. "Our records show the car is registered to a 66-year-old woman from Padang Besar. However, she is unable to drive, and we suspect her 39-year-old son may have misused the vehicle for drug trafficking," he said. He added that cannabis flowers fetch high prices in the illicit market, with rates reaching up to RM100,000 per kilogramme. The substance is often used to extract oil for medicinal and other uses, though investigations are ongoing. The seized drugs could supply an estimated 114,000 users, he said, adding that the vehicle, a Proton Saga worth about RM15,000, has also been confiscated. The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment with whipping of not fewer than 12 strokes upon conviction.
The Star
25-06-2025
- The Star
Customs intercepts cannabis smuggling at Malaysia-Thailand border
KANGAR: The Customs Department has intercepted an attempt to smuggle 22.85kg of cannabis worth about RM2.285mil near the Malaysia-Thailand border. Perlis Customs director Ismail Hashim said a team of customs personnel and officers from the Padang Besar enforcement unit inspected an empty car with Malaysian registration plates parked at the roadside near the border gate of Padang Besar in Jalan Sadao on June 19 at about 11.30pm. "Inspection of the car found several black plastic packages underneath and inside the vehicle, along with two backpacks on the rear passenger seat," he said during a press conference at the Padang Besar Customs Enforcement Unit office on Wednesday (June 25). Further checks on the black plastic packages and backpacks revealed 40 vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packets containing dried plant material suspected to be cannabis, with a total weight of 22.855kg worth about RM2.285mil. Ismail said checks revealed that the car belongs to a 66-year-old woman living in Padang Besar. "The woman is not licensed to drive, and we suspect that her 39-year-old son used her car to smuggle the cannabis," he added. The Customs Department is investigating the case under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. He urged the public to assist the Customs Department in combating smuggling crimes and advised against involvement in such activities. The public can help by providing information on smuggling activities via the Customs Toll-Free Line at 1-800-88-8855 or by contacting the nearest Customs Office in any state, ensuring that all informants' identities are kept confidential.
The Star
28-05-2025
- The Star
Undeclared by the tonne: Perlis Customs seizes goods worth over RM640,000
PADANG BESAR: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Perlis has seized various undeclared goods ranging from 28 tonnes of frozen chicken to over 7,500 motorcycle tyres, worth a total of RM645,832.52, in operations this month. Perlis Customs director Ismail Hashim (pic) said the seizures, made between May 5 and 20, included cigarettes, liquor and tyres totalling RM379,756.52 while the frozen chicken seized was valued at RM266,076. "The estimated tax and duties from the seizure is RM196,173.50,' he told a press conference at the enforcement store here on Wednesday (May 28). He said the frozen chicken was seized during an inspection of a container at the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Complex here on May 5. The seizure of 7,526 motorcycle tyres worth RM345,009 was discovered during an inspection of two containers at Port Klang, Selangor on May 20. Both cases are being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for making incorrect declarations or falsifying documents. On May 17, Perlis Customs carried out two raids, one on a premises in Taiping, Perak where it seized 24,210 cigarettes and 113.25 litres of liquor worth a total of RM11,173.52; and the other in Sungai Petani where they seized 73,040 cigarettes worth RM23,574. Ismail said investigations into these two seizures are being carried out under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for possessing, importing or exporting goods that are subject to duty or prohibited without proper authorisation. – Bernama
The Sun
28-05-2025
- The Sun
Perlis customs seizes various undeclared goods worth over RM640,000
PADANG BESAR: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) of Perlis seized various undeclared goods, frozen chicken and motorcycle tyres, worth a total of RM645,832.52 recently. Perlis Customs director Ismail Hashim said the seizures, made between May 5 and May 20, included cigarettes, liquor and tyres totalling RM379,756.52 while the frozen chicken seized was valued at RM266,076. 'The estimated tax and duties from the seizure is RM196,173.50,' he told a media conference at the enforcement store here today, adding that the 28,008 kilogrammes (kg) of frozen chicken was seized during an inspection of a container at the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Complex here on May 5. The seizure of 7,526 motorcycle tyres worth RM345,009 was discovered during an inspection of two containers at Port Klang, Selangor on May 20. Both cases are being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for making incorrect declarations or falsifying documents. On May 17, Perlis Customs carried out two raids, one on a premises in Taiping, Perak where they seized 24,210 sticks of cigarettes and 113.25 litres of liquor worth a total of RM11,173.52; and the other in Sungai Petani where they seized 73,040 sticks of cigarettes worth RM23,574. Ismail said investigations into these two seizures are being carried out under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 possessing, importing or exporting goods that are subject to duty or prohibited without proper authorisation.
