Customs officers allegedly bribed to overlook illicit activities

A VAPE smuggling syndicate is suspected of bribing Customs Department officials to overlook their illicit activities, reported The New Straits Times.

According to reports, the syndicate, which had been under surveillance by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for over three months, is believed to have smuggled nearly RM8 million worth of vapes through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Cargo Centre.

Yesterday, the graft busters launched "Op Airways," following extensive intelligence gathering by its Intelligence Division.

In the operation, six Customs Department officers, eight company directors, and two company employees were arrested in raids around KLIA and Kuala Lumpur.

Sources revealed that the MACC intercepted two bonded trucks as they were leaving the KLIA Cargo inspection centre.

"Simultaneous raids were conducted at two company warehouses. During checks with the Customs Department enforcement division, 32,000 vapes valued at RM1.9 million were seized from the trucks," the source disclosed to the NST.

The source further added that a raid on one of the warehouses resulted in the confiscation of an additional 90,000 vapes, worth RM5.4 million, along with unpaid duties.

"To date, nearly RM8 million worth of vapes, including lost national revenue from tax evasion, has been seized. The unverified contents of these vapes are concerning," the source said.

Intelligence suggests the vapes were brought into the country without proper documentation or declarations.

The syndicate is believed to have paid thousands in bribes to enforcement officers to bypass cargo scanning machines, allowing the shipments to enter Malaysia undetected.

MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the case, adding that investigations were being carried out under Sections 16 and 17 of the MACC Act 2009.

The MACC also seized some RM250,000 in cash, along with several luxury items, including four wristwatches, seven earrings, one necklace, three bracelets, two rings, a pouch, two women's handbags, a belt, a hard drive, a monitor, two CPUs, and two lorries. - January 22, 2025