SEVERAL Customs Department officers are being closely watched by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission after their former director was nabbed recently over alleged links to smuggling syndicates.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that these officers, from a state enforcement division, are still in close contact with their ex-director, who allegedly worked with syndicates to smuggle liquor and cigarettes into the country.

The connection was made after MACC arrested the former state director two weeks ago.

Sources said the authorities are zooming in on several serving Customs officers suspected of having helped the ex-director run his illegal operations.

The former director still wields authority over the officers, who assisted him with inside information on their operations.

“The net has been cast wide, and more arrests are expected,” said sources.

“These syndicates are organised, and they have information on enforcement activities from Customs officers themselves,” said one source.

“The former director still has influence and authority within the enforcement team, and among the officers who once served him.”

The source added that investigations revealed that the officers were paid a fair bit for tip-offs, usually between 5% and 10% of the value of goods smuggled in.

The source said MACC is also investigating a Customs raid on a premises in Telok Gong, Klang, in July, during which seizures were made.

No further action was taken in the case until after it was learnt that the syndicate involved had links to the former state director.

“MACC is looking into that incident now,” said the source.

The Malaysian Insight earlier this week reported that a retired Customs director had provided the authorities with information on the smuggling activities of other syndicates to steer them away from his own illicit ones.

He had set up an anti-smuggling group when he retired in November last year to “help the state authorities” stop smugglers from across the border.

“What he was actually doing was getting rid of competition from other smuggling syndicates, and at the same time, gaining knowledge on operations conducted by the Customs Department,” said a source. – October 5, 2019.