Perlis: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) in Perlis seized cannabis and goods worth RM1,726,863.86, believed to be improperly declared and lacking import permits, in separate operations conducted in Padang Besar and Kuala Perlis recently.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the director of JKDM, Ismail Hashim, stated that the most significant seizure involved 13.207 kilogrammes of cannabis valued at RM1,320,700. The drugs were discovered in a black suitcase at the Railway Cargo Scanning lane in Padang Besar on March 9. "An inspection revealed the suitcase contained a blanket and a black plastic package. Inside the plastic package were 23 transparent vacuum-sealed packets filled with dried plants suspected to be cannabis," Ismail noted in a statement today. The syndicate is believed to have abandoned the suitcase at the scanning lane to evade inspection. The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
JKDM also seized 13,176 kg of coolant worth RM111,428.86 and 29,660 broom units valued at RM71,470. These items were seized on February 26 and March 7 in Padang Besar for being improperly declared. During an inspection, a Hino lorry driven by a local man was found to have declared Yamaha and Honda coolant as Oil Lubricant in the Customs Form No. 1 (K1). Both types of coolant are subject to a 10 percent sales tax. Additionally, the seizure of brooms transpired after inspections on two lorries revealed discrepancies between the declared and actual quantities of goods in the K1 form.
On March 6, JKDM also seized 4,597 motorcycle tyres worth RM223,265 in Kuala Perlis following an inspection of a customs-sealed container on a Volvo trailer. It was determined that the tyres lacked the necessary import permit as required under Item 42, Part II, Fourth Schedule of the Customs Order (Prohibition on Imports) 2023. "The lorry driver and the company's mechanic were detained to assist in the investigation, and the importer, whose address is in Kuala Lumpur, has been identified," Ismail added. All three cases are being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for false declaration and non-compliance with import regulations.