Port Klang: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department seized 4.5 million white cigarettes with unpaid tax worth RM5.84 million found hidden in a container laden with used clothing on December 26 last year. Penang Customs director Rohaizad Ali stated that the cigarettes were confiscated during a follow-up inspection mounted by the state's Customs enforcement team at Port Klang, Selangor.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the container was declared to be laden with used clothing, but further inspection unearthed 22,500 cartons containing 4.5 million sticks of white cigarettes concealed behind 175 large boxes of used clothing. The seized cigarettes are valued at an estimated RM1.37 million, with unpaid duties amounting to RM4.47 million. Rohaizad Ali, addressing the press, mentioned that the initial investigation revealed the container, which was heading to India, originated from Thailand and was only in transit at Port Klang.

In a separate inspection at the same port on December 12, the Customs team seized 52,790 cans of beer with paid tax worth RM1.18 million in a container from India. The container was falsely declared as carrying furniture and was registered under a fake company address. The seizure involved 52,790 cans, equivalent to 26,395 litres of beer, estimated to be worth RM264,000, with unpaid tax totaling RM917,083. Rohaizad noted that no arrests have been made in connection to these cases.

Further investigations into both seizures are ongoing under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 74(1)(e) of the Excise Act 1976.