BEAUFORT: Police busted a liquor smuggling syndicate and seized 650 cartons of various types of liquor worth RM785,263.50 in an operation here, recently.
Beaufort District Police Chief Supt Champin Piuh said eight people were arrested while three lorries believed to have been in the smuggling operation were seized.
He said the operation was carried out by the Wildlife Crime/Intelligence Special Investigation Bureau of the Bukit Aman Department of Internal Security and Public Order (JKDNKA), with assistance from the Beaufort Criminal Investigation Division.
The operation followed intelligence gathering on the syndicate’s activities.
“The syndicate is believed to have used unofficial routes through river channels at estuaries and coastal areas around Menumbok and Kuala Penyu to evade detection by the authorities,” he told the Daily Express on Friday.
Champin said the case was being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
He said police recorded 16 cases involving 22 arrests and seizures worth about RM1.43 million between 2025 and September this year.
He stressed that police would continue taking firm action against individuals and syndicates involved in smuggling activities.
“This is to curb leakages of national revenue and safeguard the security of the country’s waters and borders,” he said.
Members of the public with information on smuggling or cross-border criminal activities are urged to contact the nearest police station or use official PDRM channels.
