Kuala lumpur: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has successfully cracked down on 7,097 cases of attempted smuggling and evasion of customs duties and taxes involving the seizure of various types of goods, including taxable goods with a total value of RM1.88 billion in 2025.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, JKDM director-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin said among the items seized last year were cigarettes with 2,742 cases, liquor (920 cases), drugs (734 cases), and vehicles (516 cases). She noted that this achievement recorded a significant increase of 15.33 percent, equivalent to RM250.71 million, compared to RM1.63 billion in 2024.
"This achievement reflects the ability and firmness of JKDM in continuously implementing law enforcement. It thus protects the country's revenue and curbs smuggling and embezzlement activities that affect the economy and well-being of the people," she said during a press conference.
For confiscated goods involving vehicles, JKDM conducted disposal according to the methods set out under the current circular or regulations in force, including disposal through open tenders. The process ensures transparency and integrity while generating revenue for the government. As for confiscated goods involving cigarettes and liquor (RMK), Anis Rizana emphasized that these commodities are not sold to the public but are completely disposed of.
The director-general highlighted JKDM's integrated approach, combining human intelligence (HI) and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness in field operations. This dual approach allows operational decisions to be data-driven and risk-based, while leveraging the experience and professional judgment of customs officers.
She also mentioned JKDM's progress in digital transformation with the acquisition of 134 modern, high-capacity scanning machines equipped with AI technology. These machines can quickly identify scanned goods, thus enhancing customs operations' efficiency and effectiveness.
To ensure that the department's tasks are grounded in integrity and good governance, JKDM implemented a 100 percent work rotation for 2025, surpassing the Public Service Department's (JPA) minimum requirement of 50 percent. This approach aims to strengthen operational efficiency and human resource management, reduce risks related to integrity and governance, and support sustainable human capital development.