SMUGGLED GOODS WORTH US$922,175 SEIZED

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur Customs Department seized RM2.8 million (US$922,175) in smuggled goods from January through June, with taxes on the confiscated merchandise placed at RM7.3 million (US$2.4 million).

Further, Customs Department director Saadon Mohd Dros said RM25.2 million worth of goods involving taxes of RM68.9 million were seized during the whole of last year. (US$1=RM3.00)

He noted that among the goods seized were liquor, cigarettes, tyres and mobile phones.

Saadon revealed details of the seizure to reporters during a press
conference Tuesda at the Selayang Wholesale Market after launching a campaign here to check the distribution of illegal cigarettes.

He said, in conjunction with the campaign, the Kuala Lumpur Customs
Department's enforcement division conducted a joint operation with other enforcement agencies around the Selayang Wholesale Market Monday.

He added that during the operation, 16 premises in the area were checked andfive had their merchandise confiscated due to suspicions of hoarding smuggled cigarettes.

Goods seized during the operation were valued at RM2,550.28 and involved taxes of RM11,781.88, he said.

Saadon added that it was an offence under Section 135 (1) (d) Customs Act 1967 to possess smuggled cigarettes, which carried a penalty of not less than 10 times the value of the goods seized or jail not exceeding three years, or both.

Among the cigarettes seized were various brands of kreteks such as
Nusantara, Gudang Garam Surya, Sampoerna and also John, Canyon, Luffman and June.

"Inspections showed the absence of any taxation stamps or security ink on the boxes of the cigarettes," he said.

According to Saadon, all cigarettes that are imported to Malaysia must abide by the Customs Order (Prohibition of Import) which requires all imported cigarettes be labelled with a health warning, health information, additional information related to control of sale, name and address of manufacturer, name and address of importer, date of manufacture and displays a taxation stamp.

"Without the stipulated criteria, the import of the cigarettes is not allowed," he said.