01-07-2025
Police nab five, seize RM4m in untaxed goods in Kuching raids
KUALA LUMPUR: Police seized more than RM4 million worth of untaxed cigarettes and alcohol, and arrested five men in raids in Kuching yesterday.
Op Taring 1 and Op Taring 2 were carried out by the police Internal Security and Public Order Department through its Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation and Intelligence with support from the General Operations Force.
The department's director, Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim, said the raids targeted a storage facility and premises believed to be involved in the smuggling and distribution of contraband goods.
He said four Malaysian men and one foreigner, aged between 19 and 30, were detained.
"Items seized during the raids included three lorries, a Toyota Dutro, an Isuzu and a Hino, along with their keys, 31,740 litres of various types of alcoholic beverages, 280,000 sticks of white cigarettes, and 6,000 sticks of kretek cigarettes, all suspected to be untaxed.
"The smuggling, distribution and sale of untaxed cigarettes and alcohol are the biggest threats to the economy and revenue.
"If not curbed, such activities can pose a risk to national border security," Azmi said in a statement.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for smuggling, evasion of duty and fraud involving Customs.
If found guilty, the offenders could be fined a minimum of 10 times the value of the seized goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and up to a maximum of 20 times the value or RM500,000. They also face a jail term of between six months and five years, or both.
