The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) in Johor has foiled an attempt to smuggle white cigarettes through false declaration tactics at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Iskandar Puteri.
In an operation carried out on May 18, customs officers seized 9.32 million sticks of white cigarettes of various brands hidden inside a container that had been declared as “Base Paper Reels”.
Johor Customs Director Aminul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimi said the inspection on a 40-foot container was conducted at a warehouse together with representatives from a shipping company, where the undeclared cigarettes were discovered.
He said initial checks found the container had been declared under Customs Form No. 6, Manifest Transhipment, and was believed to be en route from Vietnam to the United Kingdom.
“The container was found to contain 9,320,000 cigarettes with an estimated value of RM2.14 million, while the duties and taxes involved amounted to RM6.36 million,” he said.
He added that the total value of the seizure, including duties and taxes, was estimated at RM8.5 million.
Authorities are now actively tracking down the syndicate involved as well as the warehouse owner to assist in investigations.
According to JKDM, the syndicate used false declarations of cargo as part of its modus operandi to smuggle undeclared cigarettes.
The case is being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for making false declarations, which carries a fine of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to seven years, or both upon conviction.
