Perak: The Perak branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) successfully intercepted five smuggling attempts involving various goods, including electric bicycles, with a combined estimated value of RM2.4 million, inclusive of duties and taxes. These operations took place in January and February across multiple locations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak JKDM director Mohd Nadzri Ariffin highlighted that on January 14, the Teluk Intan JKDM Enforcement Branch halted a container at Port Klang, Selangor. The container, upon inspection, contained 801 cartons of porcelain tiles falsely declared as cement tiles, with a total seizure value, including duties and taxes, estimated at RM964,290. Following this discovery, a 35-year-old male suspect was apprehended.
In a separate incident on January 27, another container was detained at Port Klang by Mohd Nadzri's team, uncovering 765 sacks of rice weighing 22.9 tonnes. These goods had been misdeclared as dhal beans, with an estimated value of RM307,316.40. A man in his 70s was arrested in connection with this case.
On February 12, the Ipoh Enforcement Division inspected two containers at Port Klang and found 49,343 kilogrammes of frozen meat products, specifically pork and chicken, falsely declared as frozen dumplings. The estimated value of these goods, including duties and taxes, was RM645,573.87.
Further investigations on February 9 by the Pengkalan Hulu Enforcement Branch led to the discovery of 418 units of electric bicycles at Port Klang, suspected to have been misdeclared. The seized goods were estimated to be worth RM358,244.27. A manager from the importing company was arrested to aid in the investigation.
Additionally, on January 21, the Pengkalan Hulu Enforcement Branch inspected a lorry along Jalan Lenggong-Gerik. They found that rice was being smuggled into the country from a neighboring nation without a permit, using illegal routes or unauthorized entry points. Consequently, a 28-year-old lorry driver and his 30-year-old assistant were arrested, with duties and taxes estimated at RM125,126.