By Balqis Jazimah Zahari
Photo JKDM Perak
IPOH: The Perak Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) successfully thwarted attempts to smuggle cigarettes of various brands in three separate places in Sungkai, Perak; Puchong, Selangor and Bandar Baru Seri Petaling, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
Perak State Customs Director, Datuk Abdul Ghafar Mohamad said that acting on information and intelligence for two months, the Perak State Enforcement Division also managed to arrest a 40-year-old Malaysian citizen of Thai ethnicity in a Road Block (SJR) at about 8.15 am on July 27 near the Sungkai toll exit to assist with the investigation.
“Following the arrest, the Customs made several raids in Puchong, Selangor and Bandar Baru Seri Petaling, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.
As a result of the raid, the Customs succeeded in confiscating various brands of cigarettes suspected of being prohibited by customs,” he said in a statement here today.
Abdul Ghafar said that the total seizure that was successfully obtained in this special operation was as much as 1,817,960 cigarettes with a total value including tax estimated at RM1,371,688.84.
“The price of cigarettes is about RM161,668.40 and the estimated tax is RM1,210,020.44.
“Offences are investigated under Section 135(1)(d) and Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act 1967 and if convicted can be punished under the provisions of section 135 ,” he said.
