Latest news with #SabahCustomsDepartment


Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
RM16.6 million smuggled goods seized
Published on: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 11, 2025 By: Crystal E Hermenegildus Text Size: JKDM officers, including Siti (centre), showing the smuggled goods, including alcohol, chicken breast and canned products, seized. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Customs Department (JKDM) thwarted three separate smuggling attempts involving contraband goods worth a staggering RM16,668,938.04, including alcohol, boneless chicken breast and rice. JKDM Assistant Director General Siti Mang said the seizures were made during coordinated enforcement operations at Sepanggar Port between May 14 and May 29, this year. Advertisement 'The operations reflect JKDM Sabah's firm commitment to combating smuggling activities which pose a threat not only to national revenue but also to public safety and food security,' she told a press conference at Sepanggar Port, Tuesday. Siti said the largest seizure involved 33 containers of imported beer which lacked the required import permits under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023. The contraband, estimated at 659,856 litres, carried a value of RM3.97 million, with duties and taxes amounting to a further RM11.86 million. 'Customs officials discovered that the shipping manifests had been falsified, with the goods declared as aluminium products to evade detection,' siti said. In the second case on May 16, authorities inspected a single container at Sepanggar Port and discovered 28,008kg of frozen boneless chicken breast, valued at RM233,400. 'The items required import permits from the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services but were falsely declared as frozen vegetables. 'The estimated duty and tax losses from this attempt were RM93,360,' she said. On May 29, a third inspection uncovered 150,000kg of fragrant and glutinous rice that had been falsely declared as broken rice for animal feed. Siti said the rice, packed in sacks and lacking proper import documentation from the Director General of Paddy and Rice Regulatory Authority, was valued at RM356,250. The evaded duties amounted to RM142,500. All three cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which provides for a fine of no less than 10 times the value of the seized goods or RM50,000, whichever is greater. Offenders also face a maximum jail term of five years, or both. Siti urged the public to refrain from involvement in smuggling activities, which she said cause not only revenue leakages but also endanger national safety and disrupt the welfare of local communities. 'We call on the public to continue supporting Customs in the fight against smuggling by sharing any relevant information,' she said. Anyone with information on smuggling activities is encouraged to contact JKDM via the toll-free hotline 1-800-88-8855, or report to the nearest Customs office. The identity of whistleblowers will be kept strictly confidential. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
RM16.6 million worth of smuggled goods seized at Sepanggar Port
Siti (second left) and her officers showing some of the seized items. KOTA KINABALU (June 10): The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Sabah) seized RM16.6 million worth of smuggled goods in a series of raids at Sepanggar Port here last month. Sabah Customs Department Assistant Director General Siti Mang said the items seized between May 14 and 29 included liquor, frozen chicken and rice. In the first case, Customs officers inspected 33 containers and discovered 659,856 litres of various types of liquor worth RM3.97 million. The estimated duties and taxes amounted to RM11.86 million. In a second raid on May 16, officers inspected a container carrying 28 tonnes of frozen chicken valued at RM233,400. The duties and taxes were estimated at RM93,360. None of the frozen chicken products had a valid import permit. On May 29, officers uncovered 150 tonnes of fragrant and glutinous rice worth RM356,250, with duties and taxes totaling RM142,500. All cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967. Siti said smuggling activities not only cause significant revenue loss but also pose risks to national security and public well-being. She urged the public to cooperate with the Customs Department by reporting any smuggling activities via the Customs Toll-Free line at 1-800-88-8855.


Daily Express
3 days ago
- Daily Express
Sabah customs seize RM16.6 mil in liquor, chicken and rice
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: Crystal E Hermenegildus Text Size: Crystal E Hermenegildus/Daily Express KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Customs Department seized over RM16.6 million worth of alcohol, boneless chicken, and rice in three separate raids. Assistant Director General Siti Mang said the first bust happened between May 14–29, involving 33 containers of liquor at Sepanggar Port. Advertisement Other seizures included 28 tonnes of frozen chicken on May 16 and 150 tonnes of smuggled rice disguised as animal feed on May 29 at 3.50pm. All cases are under investigation under the Customs Act 1967. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia