SHAH ALAM – The Selangor Royal Malaysian Customs Department foiled an attempt to smuggle 11tn of red sandalwood logs worth an estimated RM6.3 million at North Port, Port Klang on Tuesday.
Customs director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir said the logs were smuggled in a 20-foot container which was declared as containing “Others Household and Hand Tools”.
“The shipping agents involved have been identified and actions are being taken to track them down to facilitate investigations,” he said in a statement today.
Abdul Latif said red sandalwood is listed as a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II item and is included in the Third Schedule of the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686). The smuggling case was being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.
In addition, Abdul Latif said Customs also seized a 40-foot container at the same port yesterday after it was found to contain 21,600 litres of liquor.
“The liquor worth RM108,000 was believed to have not gone through customs and the estimated customs duty is worth RM613,440,” he said, adding that liquor is classified as a prohibited item under Schedule 3,Part II, Customs (Prohibition of Import) Order 2017.
The case was being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 and the Excise Act 1976. – Bernama, January 15, 2021
