Malaysia: Customs Foil Cigarette-smuggling Activities

Source from:  New Straits Times (my)  01/09/2013

The Royal Customs Department here recently foiled three separate attempts to smuggle cigarettes, seizing nearly 9.5 million sticks of cigarettes worth about RM5.6 million including tax.

In the most recent bust, Customs enforcement officers stopped a lorry at Kilometre 245.7 near Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, on the North-South Highway heading north at around 10am yesterday after receiving a tip-off from the public.
 
Checks on the vehicle revealed that it was carrying 248 boxes of kretek cigarettes comprising LA and Djarum brands which were valued at RM338,600 with unpaid Customs duty amounting to RM1,574,900.
 
The 39-year-old lorry driver tried to make his escape by running into the bushes at the side of the highway and managed to run about 300 metres before he was detained by officers.
 
 State Customs director Datuk Mohd Nasir Said said the driver was currently held under remand to facilitate investigations and would be brought into court.
 
"The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967 for transporting prohibited items," he said.
 
Those convicted under the Section are liable to be punished under Section 135(1)(iii)(aa) of the same Act which provides a fine no less than 10 times and not more than 20 times the amount of the customs duty or RM100,000, whichever is the greater amount, or a jail term not exceeding three years or both.
 
In an earlier raid on Dec 29 last year, Customs enforcement officers cracked a large smuggling attempt involving a 40-foot-long container near Senawang, Negeri Sembilan, at around 10.30am.
 
The container was found to have been carrying 3,604,000 sticks of kretek and white cigarettes in boxes which did not have the Customs duty stamp.
 
The cigarettes were valued at RM336,200 with unpaid Customs duty amounting to RM1,828,144.
 
The lorry driver managed to get away after accomplices came to his aid and drove off before officers could catch him.
 
As for the third case, on Jan 4, enforcement officers stopped a lorry carrying 280 boxes of John white cigarettes near Seremban, Negeri Sembilan as it was heading north on the North-South Highway. 

Valued at RM140,000, the cigarettes were worth up to RM1,388,800 in unpaid Customs duty.
 
Unfortunately, the lorry driver also got away.
 
Mohd Nasir also urged those with any information regarding smuggling activities to contact the Customs Department through their toll-free number 1-800-88-8855 or 06-284 6190. Enditem