KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Royal Malaysian Customs Department foiled attempts to smuggle in RM9 million worth of contraband alcohol and cigarettes with the seizures of four shipping containers last week.
State Customs Assistant Chief Mohd Nasir Deraman said the first case on Dec 13 saw two containers at the Tawau Port confiscated at about 7.20pm.
“Preliminary inspections found the containers loaded with 36,432 litres of beer with an estimated value of RM218,227 amounting to RM568,069 after duties,” he told a press conference.
The two other containers were seized just a day later in a separate case at the Sepanggar Port, here, at about 10.15am.
Mohd Nasir said image scanners and risk assessment led to the 10.15am discovery by the Special Investigation Branch and the Kota Kinabalu Enforcement Operations Unit.
"One container held a total of 31,752 litres of beer worth RM 104,781 with an estimated value of duties and taxes involved amounting to RM 466,278.
"Another container was found containing 10.3 million sticks of cigarettes with an estimated value of RM824,000 amounting to RM6,880,400 after duties,” he said.
According to Mohd Nasir, the modus operandi for both cases is making fake claims for imported goods to evade authorities.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1) (a) of the Customs Act 1967.