4,000 litres of bootleg liquor seized in 220 raids
Bernama
New Straits Times28 September 2018
PORT KLANG: The Customs Department (JKDM) has seized more than 4,000 litres of various brands of bootleg liquor in 220 raids on several premises selling liquor around the Klang Valley amid a spate of toxic alcohol poisoning that has claimed 40 lives.
Customs director-general, Datuk Seri T.Subromaniam, said in the operation, 34 individuals including three women, some of whom were foreigners, were detained after being suspected of being involved in the sale of bootleg liquor not licensed by the Customs,
“With these arrests, the Customs department wants to warn those who allow their premises to be used for bootleg alcohol production and storing can be charged,” he said.
Subromaniam said this in a press conference at the Selangor Wisma Kastam office in West Port here today.
Also present was Selangor police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor.
Meanwhile, Subromaniam said in the latest raid carried out on a house in Taman Klang Utama, Klang on Wednesday, the Customs Department foiled a bootleg liquor production syndicate, seizing 1,966 litres of various liquor brands, namely Mandalay, Club 99, Grand Royal, which costs RM260,090.31 in tax payments.
He said during the raid conducted at about 12.30 am, the Customs department also detained a 63-year-old local man.
“We also found several barrels believed to contain methanol and brandy flavours as well as bottling tools,” he said.
Subromaniam said that the case was being investigated under Section 74 (1) of the Excise Act (Act 176) 1976 and Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1976.
According to a Health Ministry statement, the number of deaths due to methanol poisoning in Selangor was 24, Kuala Lumpur (11), Perak (four) and Negeri Sembilan (one).
Based on nationality, the deaths comprised two Bangladeshis, two Indian nationals, 11 Myanmar nationals, 10 Nepalese, 11 Malaysians and four others of unknown nationality. - Bernama © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
