Penang Customs Seize Contraband Cigarettes Worth RM27 Mil

BUTTERWORTH, April 14 (Bernama) -- Penang Customs have crippled a number of attempts to smuggle contraband cigarettes into the country worth RM27 million, including unpaid tax, after carrying out a number of raids at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) here recently.

Penang Customs director Datuk Matrang Suhaili said during the first raid on March 29, two containers from Vietnam were detained at the NBCT.

"After investigations, we managed to seize 20.4 million sticks of contraband cigarettes weighing about 30 tonnes and worth RM10.49 million, including unpaid tax," he told reporters here on Wednesday.

Based on information from the public, we carried out surveillance for three days before carrying out another raid at NBCT and seized two more containers from Vietnam with 19.6 million sticks of contraband cigarettes labeled as Zone King and Paradox, worth RM10, including unpaid tax, he said.

"On the same day, we carried out another inspection at the terminal and found a container from Cambodia that was ready to be delivered from the NBCT, using false Customs 1 documents," he said.

Matrang said during the 3pm raid, 17 tonnes of contraband cigarettes, worth RM5.1 million, including tax, was found.

Initial investigations revealed that the three consignments were masterminded by the same syndicate.

"No arrests were made but investigations are currently going on to track down the syndicate responsible," he said.

He added that on April 12, a three-tonne lorry was spotted by customs officers, leaving an illegal jetty in Tanjung Piandang, Perak at about 11pm and heading North via the North-South Expressway.

"Customs officers trailed the lorry for about two hours before stopping it upon reaching Seberang Jaya but the driver managed to escape in a car driven by an accomplice.

"The lorry was laden with 1,344,000 sticks of clove cigarette worth RM843,897, including unpaid tax," he said adding that the registration number of the lorry was found to be false.

Matrang said on April 11, the department managed to prevent three containers from Singapore, laden with 69 tonnes of tobacco, from leaving the NBCT.

"The seized tobacco was worth RM4.06 million and we are in the process of identifying the importer," he said.