Customs Busts Counterfeit Liquor Operation and Seizes Smuggled Tobacco Products Worth RM2.5 Million
PETALING JAYA, July 4 — The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has dismantled a counterfeit liquor processing operation and intercepted an illegal shipment of tobacco products in two separate enforcement actions across the Klang Valley, with the combined value of the seizures exceeding RM2.5 million.
Kuala Lumpur Customs Deputy Director (Customs) Noraidah Ishak said the successful operations were carried out by the department’s Enforcement Division as part of ongoing efforts to combat smuggling activities and the production of illicit excisable goods.
The first case involved coordinated raids conducted on May 20 at two warehouses located in Jalan Wangsa Utama and Taman Wangsa Permai in Kuala Lumpur.
The operation, which began at about noon, uncovered an illegal facility believed to have been used for processing and bottling counterfeit alcoholic beverages.
During the inspection, enforcement officers seized approximately 4,987 litres of liquor bearing suspected counterfeit tax stamps.
Authorities also discovered equipment believed to have been used in the manufacturing process, including large containers filled with a chemical mixture suspected to contain ethanol, bottling equipment, bottle-capping machines, packaging materials, counterfeit product labels and rolls of fake customs tax stamps.
Noraidah said the confiscated liquor and equipment were estimated to be worth RM278,531, while unpaid duties and taxes were calculated at RM672,669, bringing the total value of the seizure to approximately RM951,200.
She said investigators believe the syndicate deliberately operated from warehouses located in relatively isolated areas away from residential neighbourhoods to avoid attracting public attention while carrying out the processing and packaging of counterfeit alcoholic beverages.
Two foreign men were arrested during the operation and subsequently remanded to facilitate investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 74(1)(f) of the Excise Act 1976.
In a separate enforcement action, Kuala Lumpur Customs officers intercepted a shipping container on May 14 that was believed to have arrived from a South Asian country.
A detailed inspection of the container uncovered 5,449 kilograms of chewing tobacco products suspected to have been imported without complying with customs requirements.
According to Noraidah, the importation of such products is subject to licensing requirements under Item 66, Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.
The seized tobacco products were estimated to be worth RM944,944, with unpaid duties and taxes amounting to approximately RM677,551.
The combined value of the tobacco seizure was estimated at around RM1.6 million.
Investigations into the second case are being conducted under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which relates to the unlawful importation of prohibited or restricted goods.
JKDM said enforcement operations against smuggling syndicates and illegal manufacturing activities will continue as part of efforts to safeguard government revenue and curb the circulation of counterfeit and untaxed products in the domestic market.
The department also reiterated its commitment to strengthening border enforcement and disrupting organised criminal networks involved in customs-related offences.
