Sabah Customs seizes beer valued RM2.7 million
KOTA KINABALU: Customs officials have discovered yet another instance of fraudulently claimed products being carried into Sabah by smugglers in order to avoid paying taxes.
On May 10, Sabah Customs confiscated six containers containing beer valued at around RM2.7 million, including unpaid taxes, that had passed through the nearby Sepanggar port.
Following the discovery that the consignment had been fraudulently declared as furniture, clothing, electrical appliances, hardware, and other commodities, the seizure was carried out.
This was the most recent attempt in a long line of smugglers’ schemes to deceive law enforcement by falsely declaring cargo at the same port.
Previous incidents include the finding on May 7 of chicken meat valued at RM2.75 million that was mislabeled as green peas and potatoes.
On April 24, a second effort was thwarted when containers carrying RM1.5 million worth of illegal alcohol were discovered to contain household goods, smartphone accessories, and excavator spare parts.
Personnel from the Kota Kinabalu enforcement operation team were part in the May 10 operation, according to Assistant Director-General Datuk Mohd Nasir Deraman of State Customs.
He added that the squad investigated 20 containers at Sepanggar port at 9 a.m. in response to a tip.
“Our men then discovered that six of them contained illegal beer,” he stated on Wednesday, June 12, at a press conference in Sepanggar.
According to him, the alcoholic beverages were worth RM484,788, and the outstanding duty was RM2,264,476.40.
“Altogether, the items were worth RM2,749,264.40,” he stated.
Subject to Sections 52 and 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, according to Mohd Nasir, investigations were being conducted.
He advised anyone with information to contact the Customs hotline at 1-800-88-8855, which is free of charge, in order to assist the authorities in stopping smuggling activities.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) head commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki stated during his tour to Sabah on Monday, June 10, that the organisation was actively keeping an eye on all ports in the nation to prevent leaks that may arise from fake goods declarations made in order to evade taxes.
The MACC would collaborate closely with the Customs Department to solve this issue, he said, adding that such activities frequently result from corruption and the abuse of power.