Penang customs raids smash three separate smuggling rings, seizing untaxed cigarettes and liquor worth nearly RM4 million in Bukit Mertajam operations.

BUTTERWORTH: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has dismantled three separate syndicates and seized contraband cigarettes and liquor worth RM3.9 million in a series of raids in Bukit Mertajam.

Penang JKDM director Datuk Rohaizad Ali said four men were arrested in the operations conducted under Ops Petasan.

The first raid on February 9 at a house in Kampung Sungai Lembu uncovered 38,200 cigarettes and 1,238.15 litres of liquor valued at RM97,040.

A man in his 40s, claiming to be the premises owner, was arrested at the scene.

Officers conducted a second raid on February 24 at a residence in Taman Kekwa.

They discovered 182,000 cigarettes and 998.12 litres of liquor stored in various rooms, with the seizure valued at RM236,572.

A man in his 50s, identified as the homeowner, was arrested in connection with this find.

The largest seizure occurred on February 26 during a raid on a warehouse and lorry in Kampung Manggis.

Authorities found 3.34 million untaxed cigarettes stored at the location with an estimated value of RM3.64 million.

“We also arrested the lorry driver and his assistant, both men in their 40s, who were inside the vehicle during the operation,” Rohaizad said.

Investigations revealed the seized cigarettes were destined for the local market.

The confiscated liquor was intended for sale to foreigners within the country.

Rohaizad confirmed the three syndicates operated independently of each other.

He said they utilised residential premises and warehouses as storage to evade detection.

JKDM is actively tracing the owner of the warehouse used in the third case.

All cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.

 The Sun Malaysia