MALAYSIAN GOVT LOSES US$61.08 MIL IN UNPAID DUTIES ON SMUGGLED GOODS

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- The country lost RM198 million (US$61.08
million) (US$1=RM3.24) in unpaid duties on smuggled goods from January to May
this year, said Deputy Finance Minister Dr Awang Adek Hussein.

He said goods worth RM245.5 million were seized during the period, of which
cigarettes accounted for RM43.6 million with RM146 million in unpaid duties.

Confiscated goods such as vehicles will be auctioned while drugs will be
destroyed, he said when answering a question from Ibrahim Ali, a member of
parliament (MP) at the House of Representatives Tuesday.

Awang Adek said cigarettes worth RM19.2 million were seized in the
corresponding period in 2008 and RM27.9 million in the corresponding period last
year.

Earlier, to a question from Mohd Nizar Zakaria, another MP, he
said goods worth RM197.3 million were seized from January to March this year and
the figure rose to RM245.5 million till May.

"The goods confiscated were cigarettes, alcoholic drinks, drugs, vehicles
and communication tools," he added.

On the status of goods seized, he said 85 per cent of them were still under
investigation, five per cent in the trial court and the 10 per cent at the
cancellation stage.

-- BERNAMA



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