KOTA KINABALU, March 1 — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) seized 81,009 kg of frozen chicken worth over RM1.11 million, believed to have been smuggled in from neighbouring countries at Sepanggar Port early last month.
Sabah Zone Customs assistant director-general Datuk Mohd Nasir Deraman said the department, acting on information received by the Sabah Zone JKDM Intelligence Branch, conducted inspections on three containers arriving from Port Klang, Selangor, on February 2 and February 8.
“The inspections revealed the containers were loaded with frozen chicken parts including breasts and thighs.
“The frozen food was estimated to be valued at RM931,500 with taxes totalling RM186,300,” he told a press conference today.
Following that, two individuals, the owners of the premises to which the items were addressed, were detained to assist with the investigation.
Nasir said the investigation found all the containers, originating from Thailand, were transported into the country via Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, on January 16 using Customs Form No. 8 (in transit) and were subsequently sent to Port Klang.
“Checks found the importer had used Customs Form No. 3, which violates Customs Regulations concerning the transfer of goods under ‘in-transit’ status. The containers were found to be in ‘in-transit’ status within the Port Klang Free Zone,” he said.
Per regulations, the items should have been declared with Customs Form No. 1 upon leaving the Free Zone area and heading to Port Klang, with Customs Form No. 3 then used for transit from Port Klang to ports within the state.
“We discovered that upon leaving the Free Zone, the items were not declared using the K1 Customs Form, but instead, the company and its agents used Customs Form No. 3, suggesting they may be attempting to evade taxes by not using the Customs Form No. 1,” Nasir said.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1)(9) of the Customs Act 1967, and he urged those with information about the case to come forward to assist in the investigation.
— Bernama
