Johor Customs seizes RM13.46 million in smuggled cigarettes, largest bust this year

Johor Customs has made its largest seizure of the year, intercepting a shipment of 12 million white cigarettes valued at RM4.8 million. The total value of the confiscated goods, including RM8.664 million in duties and taxes, reaches RM13.46 million. The operation took place on June 8 after authorities inspected a container at the Free Zone Area of Tanjung Pelepas Port in Gelang Patah.

During the inspection, officers discovered the substantial quantity of cigarettes of various brands. The container had been declared as "photovoltaic system components" and was reportedly shipped from China with Lisbon, Portugal, as its final destination. This false declaration is a key element in the smuggling operation.

Under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023, cigarettes are listed as prohibited import items. The modus operandi involved misdeclaring the cargo to facilitate the smuggling of untaxed cigarettes. The case is now being investigated under Section 133(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries penalties of fines not exceeding RM500,000, imprisonment for up to seven years, or both.

This significant bust highlights the ongoing efforts by Malaysian Customs to combat illicit trade and smuggling activities, particularly concerning high-taxed goods like cigarettes. The seizure underscores the lengths to which smugglers will go, using sophisticated methods like false declarations to conceal their illegal activities.