Penang: The Penang branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has thwarted the smuggling of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, such as beer and liquor, resulting in the seizure of these illegal items valued at RM2.52 million in three raids in the state and Kedah last month (July). Its director, Hasbollah Din, highlighted that the success of these raids was based on public information and intelligence operations leading to surveillance and subsequent action on three terrace houses.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initial raid occurred at 2 pm on July 10, in a house in Kulim, Kedah. During this operation, authorities discovered 205,880 sticks of cigarettes and 12,464.20 litres of various brands of alcoholic beverages suspected of being untaxed. The total seizure value, inclusive of duties and taxes, is estimated at RM1,286,644.63. No individuals were present at the house during the raid, and it is suspected that the syndicate rented the premises for storage of the contraband.

In a subsequent operation on the same day at 3.30 pm, a house in Bukit Mertajam was raided, revealing 31,840 sticks of cigarettes and 5,945.3 litres of various brands of liquor, believed to be non-customs goods. These items were valued at RM398,449.55, including duties and taxes.

Hasbollah further detailed a third raid conducted at 6.30 pm on July 31 at a terrace house in Sungai Jawi. This operation led to the apprehension of a 40-year-old man and the seizure of 777,400 sticks of various brands of cigarettes worth RM843,827.60, including duties and taxes. The modus operandi involved using houses as storage facilities to conceal untaxed cigarettes and liquor, believed to be smuggled in from abroad.

The director noted that despite the separate operations, investigations are ongoing to uncover the syndicate and its network. The seized goods were intended for local distribution, with some alcohol exceeding the country's permitted alcohol content limits. The cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, related to the possession of non-customs goods or prohibited items.