KLANG, May 27 — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Central Zone II (Selangor) busted a smuggling syndicate of used electric scooters, beedis, cigarettes, iron and plastic scrap estimated to be worth RM121.65 million through several raids around Port Klang from March to April.
Central Zone Customs principal assistant director Norlela Ismail said for the confiscation of used electric scooters; her team found the goods had no import permit after seizing a container in North Port on March 20.
An inspection of the container found 700 units of electric scooters with an estimated value and duty of RM573,000.
“The investigation found that a false declaration had been made on the item as aluminium alloy, which is an item that is not subject to an import permit to avoid being detected by the Customs.
“The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a), Customs Act 1967, and if convicted, can be punished with a fine, a maximum of five years imprisonment or both,” she said at a press conference today.
As for the seizure of beedi or leaf cigarettes, Norlela said the Selangor JKDM had found 500,000 beedi sticks with an estimated value and duty of RM12.5 million, with the syndicate declaring the items as foodstuff.
The confiscation comes after a container was detained in North Klang Port on April 15. Under the Customs Act 1967, those found guilty could be fined and imprisoned for a maximum of five years or both.
Regarding the cigarette case, on March 19 and April 2, the Selangor JKDM detained 11 containers in the West Port and found and confiscated the prohibited goods, which had an estimated value and duty of RM102.8 million.
She said both cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a), Customs Act 1967, because the parties are suspected of not complying with the conditions under the Customs (Prohibition on Import) Order 2023, i.e. not having an import permit for cigarettes transiting the port.
As for the scrap iron case, the Selangor JKDM had confiscated 34 containers with an estimated value of RM5.3 million in the West Port that were believed to not have a valid import permit with the goods pledged as aluminium flakes and aluminium alloy.
“For the case of scrap plastics, the Selangor JKDM has placed a hold on six containers with an estimated value of RM355,102, which also have no imports permit and have been falsely declared as plastics and PE Flakes,” Norlela said.
— Bernama
