Selangor Customs foils smuggling attempt, seized RM10.5mln worth of cigarettes, liquors

NST

By C. Premananthini

Pix by Rosdan Wahid and Mohd Asri Saifuddin Mamat

PORT KLANG: Selangor Royal Malaysian Customs Department has foiled a smuggling attempt with the seizure of 37 containers of cigarettes and liquors worth RM10.5 million from a ship at Bukit Gombak jetty, Carey Island on Saturday.

Nine Indonesian crew members, aged between 30 and 40, were arrested to assist in the investigation.

Its Enforcement and Compliance deputy director-general Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy said the raid was conducted based on a tip-off received on the Indonesian-registered vessel, 'Prelude Portsmouth' at the jetty about 2.30pm yesterday.

He said a team of customs and marine enforcement officers, patrolling the coastline were deployed to inspect the ship.

"From the search, the team found that 37 containers laden with cigarettes and liquors have not been approved by the Customs Department.

"The unpaid taxes for the seized items were estimated between RM60 and RM80 million.

"The confiscated items have been taken to the marine base for further action," he said.

Subromaniam said the case was being investigated under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967 for transporting and transferring goods that have not received Customs' approval.

"We are tracking down the ship's captain and another individual who managed to escape during the raid," he said.

He said initial investigations revealed that the vessel was transporting the goods from Singapore to the Philippines.

"We are investigating why the ship's captain decided to stop here when it could have sailed straight to its destination." he said.