SARAWAK CUSTOMS FOILS MAJOR CIGGIE SMUGGLING OPERATION, SEIZES OVER 16 MLN "KRETEK" STICKS - KUCHING SARAWAK

SARAWAK CUSTOMS FOILS MAJOR CIGGIE SMUGGLING OPERATION, SEIZES OVER 16 MLN "KRETEK" STICKS - KUCHING SARAWAK

@Jr_Paku Midin Channel

KUCHING (March 26, 2025): The Royal Malaysian Customs Department Sarawak has successfully thwarted a major cigarette smuggling operation, seizing over 16 million sticks of ‘kretek’ cigarettes (clove-laced tobacco cigarettes) in a raid here last month.

Customs Department Sarawak director Norizan Yahya said this was one of the biggest cigarette seizures to date, with the contraband cigarettes valued at an estimated RM12.64 million, including duties/taxes.

“A lorry suspected to be used to transport the cigarettes was also seized with an estimated value of RM80,000.

“In addition, a 44-year-old local suspect has also been detained for further investigation,” he told a press conference at Wisma Kastam here today.

According to him, the cigarettes were smuggled into Sarawak through various ports, with the perpetrators employing deceptive import declarations.

“They falsely declared the shipments as various things such as textiles and other goods to avoid detection,” he revealed.

Norizan said the cigarettes were seized during a raid on an unnamed premises at Jalan Semaba, Mile 5 around 9.30am on Feb 12.

He pointed out that the premises was used as a storage warehouse for the smuggled cigarettes.

“An inspection of the premises uncovered 16,656,000 sticks of ‘kretek’ cigarettes of various bands stored there,” he said.

He said the syndicate’s modus operandi was to store cigarettes in premises in remote areas before distributing them to the local market.

“The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which, upon conviction, can result in a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is greater, and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not less than six months and not more than five years, or both.

“Additionally, the case is also being investigated under Section 74(1)(a) of the Excise Act 1976 – attempting to evade excise duty by fraud – where upon conviction, can result in a fine of not less than 10 times the amount of excise duty or RM100,000, whichever is greater, and not more than 20 times the amount of excise duty or RM500,000, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not less than six months and not more than five years, or both,” said Norizan.

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@Jr_Paku Midin Channel