Kota Kinabalu: Six containers of liquor, estimated to be worth more than RM2.74 million including duties and taxes, were confiscated by the Sabah Customs Department at Sepanggar Port, near here, on May 10.
The liquor is believed to have been smuggled in from neighbouring countries.
Sabah Zone Customs Assistant Director-General Datuk Mohd Nasir Deraman said the seizure was made at 9am when the raiding team inspected 20 containers at the port because they suspected goods were being smuggled in using the containers.
“An inspection of all the containers showed as many as six containers containing liquor totalling 149,825 litres of beer of various brands.
“The estimated value of the liquor is RM484,788 and the estimated duties and taxes involved amounted to RM2,254,476,” he told a press conference here Wednesday.
He said the modus operandi of this smuggling syndicate was to falsify information by declaring the goods as others such as lamps, keys and fishing nets.
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Mohd Nasir said the investigation was focused on the shipping agent because the goods declared in the container were different and did not comply with the rules outlined.
He said the case was being investigated under Sections 52 and 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.
Mohd Nasir urged the public to cooperate with the department in combating smuggling, especially of cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, drugs, vehicles and other items, to prevent loss of national revenue.
He said the public can channel information through the department’s toll free line at 1-800-88-8855.
