28 luxury cars, six high-powered bikes worth RM1.14mil seized by Customs
The luxury cars seized.
2PUTRAJAYA: Some twenty eight-luxury cars and six high-powered motorcycles worth more than RM1.14mil have been seized in an ongoing effort to crackdown on untaxed vehicles in Perak.
Among the types of luxury cars seized were Mercedes Benz, Porche, BMW, mini-cooper while the high-powered motorcycles, include several Ducati and Yamaha.
Customs director-general Datuk Seri Khazali Ahmad said the vehicles, which were seized in Perak since early this year, accumulated some RM2.3mil in unpaid taxes.
“We have arrested thirteen car owners in connection with the crime.
“They have been released on bail under Section 116 of the Custom Act 1967,”he told a press conference on Thursday.
He added that further investigations would reveal whether any middleman was involved in the car smuggling syndicate.
“The vehicles are smuggled in from neighbouring countries and sold locally for 45 percent lower than the market price.
“If caught with untaxed vehicles in their possession, owners will still have to pay a price amounting to the forfeited car duties to get their vehicles back,” said Khazali.
Meanwhile, a man in his 30s was detained attempting to smuggle RM1.8mil worth of rice into the country in Port Klang on Nov 1.
“We are still looking for the suspects’ accomplices.
“In so doing, the culprits have evaded paying import taxes amounting to RM 720,000,” said Khazali.
He added that police are investigating the case under Section 135(1)(g) of the Custom Act for fraud.
On the same day, police arrested a foreigner believed to be in his 30s for smuggling firearm into the country.
“We believe that the suspect is unlicensed to carry firearms,” said Khazali.
He added that the suspect is under police remand until Nov 15.
