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THE Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) has confiscated a vast cache of electronic cigarette (vape) devices and flavoured liquids with an estimated value exceeding RM5 million, following separate enforcement actions at port facilities in Penang and Selangor in April.
Penang Customs director Rohaizad Ali said the first seizure was carried out on 3 April at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT), where officers discovered 14,200 vape devices and 210 litres of flavoured liquid inside a shipping container that had been falsely declared.
“The container was declared as carrying plastic goods, but upon inspection, officers uncovered the concealed vape-related items,” he told reporters during a press briefing on Thursday.
“These goods were not declared during importation and were smuggled alongside other merchandise,” he added.
The Penang seizure carries an estimated street value of RM1.33 million, with RM205,400 in evaded taxes. Two individuals, including a Chinese national and a local port agent in his 30s, were arrested to assist in the investigation.
In a separate operation on 10 April at Port Klang, Selangor, Customs officials seized 71,886 vape devices and 786.5 litres of flavoured liquids valued at RM3.64 million.
Rohaizad explained that similar deceptive tactics were used by the syndicate involved, including misdeclaration of goods on import documents.
“In this case, the estimated value of the seized vape devices alone stood at RM1.94 million, with tax evasion totalling RM400,782,” he said. “The electronic cigarette liquids were worth RM865,150, with an estimated RM432,575 in unpaid duties.”
A port agent in his 40s was arrested in connection with the Selangor case.
Both incidents are being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which covers offences related to false declarations of imported goods.
The seizures mark a significant blow to smuggling syndicates attempting to capitalise on Malaysia’s vape market, which is increasingly under regulatory scrutiny. - June 5, 2025
