Customs nabs 13, seizes RM70,000 worth of items

Published on: Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Tawau: Nineteen cases of violation on subsidised and import/export-banned goods were detected during an eight-day integrated Operasi Subsidi I/2013 in the district which ended Monday.

The exercise, involving five enforcement agencies, also saw the seizure of RM70,000 worth of various controlled goods, including five vehicles, and 13 people were arrested.

State Customs Director Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok, who disclosed this, said the detainees who include locals were held for further investigation under the Supply Control Act 1961 and Customs Act 1967.

He said the seized goods, among others 936 litres of diesel/petrol worth RM1,778.40; 7,805kilogrammes of sugar (RM14,049); 140kg of cooking oil (RM224), 249kg of wheat flour (RM249); 155.92kg of frozen meat (RM935.52); seven LPG gas cylinders (RM350); 310kg of rice (RM310 and batik sarongs (RM345).

The five vehicles concerned belonged to suspects.

Dr Janathan said the operation which began on Jan 7 was concentrated on Tawau, Tawau Port, Pulau Sebatik and Semporna, the first after the establishment of the committee monitoring controlled/subsidy goods in July last year.

Apart from Customs Department, it also involved the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry (Ministry), Marine Police Force and Tawau Municipal Council.

"Our department led the exercise this time around which will be continued from time to time. The agencies would take turns to lead in this exercise," he said, while appreciating the other agencies involved.

Dr Janathan said the operation was aimed at curbing and preventing fraud or smuggling involving controlled/subdsidised goods in or out of the country to the Philippines and Indonesia.

"Besides that it was also meant to strengthen the cooperation among law enforcement agencies involved," he told reporters at the closing of the exercise at Wisma Customs here.

Dr Janathan also appealed the public to come forward to provide information to the enforcement agencies concerned against trafficking in Sabah. Those with information can contact the District Customs Department office here at 089-771522.

Earlier in his speech he said although Pulau Sebatik which is shared by Malaysia and Indonesia as well as the long shoreline in Sabah have always been the main challenges they have to deal with in curbing smuggling activities, it is not an excuse for them to be 'silent' about it.