Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Director, Datin Sharifah Halimah Tuanku Taha (left) and Head of JKDM
Enforcerment, Rameli Ahmad (second right) showing the contraband seized at Senari Port in Kuching after the press
conference at Wisma Kastam in Petra Jaya yesterday. PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER LIDOM
KUCHING: The State Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has seized a container containing 4,300,000 sticks of cigarettes with an estimated tax value of RM3.02 million at Senari Port, in Kuching.
According to Customs Department Director-General, Dato’ Seri Subromaniam Tholasy, on Dec 4, 2017, based on information from the initial investigation by the state JKDM, the Customs officers have found the container carrying 430 master cases of Rave brand cigarettes.
“Our ini t ial inves t igat ion shows that the trade products are declared as 300 cartoons of Nail Polish remover and 330 cartons of Cleansing Water in the Customs Information System (SMK).
“Total seizure value is estimated to be around RM390,000 wi th es t imated tax value of RM3.02 million, and all the cigarettes have been seized under the provision of Section 114 of the Customs Act 1967 on suspicion of being imported without a licence, and the case is also being investigated under Section 135 (1) (a) of Customs Act 1967 which is importing prohibited goods,” said Subromaniam during a press conference held at Wisma Kastam in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
He added most of the smuggled cigarettes come from Vietnam and Kemboja. Subromaniam also noted that JKDM is currently monitoring 12 courier agents in the country where their licence will be suspended under the demerit system in relation to the smuggled cases as they deny knowing the courier content.
The agents, he said, must know their customers, and it is impossible for them to not knowing what they are sending, and after the investigation by our department, the agents licences will be suspended. “The customs department will not compromise on this matter as this involves safety issues, and we must ensure that the declaration is true.
“But if there is a fake declaration, the agent’s licence will be suspended permanent ly,” he stressed. He pointed that the 12 agents are in Port Klang, Johor, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Sarawak, Sabah and Pulau Pinang. Also present were State JKDM Director, Datin Sharifah Halimah Tuanku Taha and Head of JKDM Enforcerment, Rameli Ahmad.
