THE Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Malacca seized various goods worth approximately RM23 million, including unpaid taxes and duties, from January to June this year.

Malacca Customs director Norlela Ismail there were 101 cases listed in the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order and 30 suspects.

“There was a 15% increase in the number of cases compared to 86 cases during the same period last year.

“These cases involved the seizure of cigarettes, liquor, cars, firecrackers and fireworks as well as firearms,” she said in Ayer Keroh today.

According to Norlela, the department managed to confiscate 10.3 million cigarettes worth RM7.97 million from storage facilities in three locations around Negri Sembilan and Johor on January 13, April 9 and June 10.

Norlela also said that a team from the enforcement division had foiled an attempt to smuggle cigarettes using three lorries in Ijok, Selangor, on June 6.

During the raid, the lorry drivers managed to escape but the vehicles contained 3.38 million cigarettes with an excise duty valued at RM2.52 million.

“Meanwhile, on June 8, based on an intelligence report and co-operation of a courier company, we seized two precision airguns, one ‘BB Rifle’ and one air pistol, along with three cans of ammunition in a hotel carpark in Ayer Keroh.

“Following the arrest of a 36-year-old local man, we raided his house in Bemban and managed to seize an air pistol. It is believed that the suspect bought weapons online from abroad and declared them as ‘handicrafts metal decorations’,” she added. – Bernama, August 2, 2022.