A CAR smuggling syndicate from Singapore was detected offering to sell vehicles at a 30 to 40 percent discount to lure local buyers.
Kelantan Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Director, Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long said investigations found that smugglers were placing the cars in several areas around Johor Bahru before distributing them to customers nationwide.
He said that Kelantan JKDM had seized nine branded smuggled cars in Johor Bahru worth RM1.46 million within a week in May, based on information from the public.
“Among the cars seized were a BMW 325, Porsche Panamera, Audi A5, Jaguar, Mercedez Benz and Suzuki Swift which were sold for as low as RM25,000 to RM800,000.
"All the vehicles seized were suspected to involve the same car smuggling syndicate.
“All these vehicles are classified as prohibited goods subject to the Customs (Prohibition on Imports 2023) Order and the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
“Those convicted of an offence may be fined not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is greater, and not more than twice the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for the first offence,” he told a press conference at the Kota Bharu JKDM Enforcement Office, today.
Wan Jamal said the public is advised to be more careful when buying vehicles, especially luxury ones, if offered at a cheap price.
In another development, Wan Jamal shared the success of the Kelantan JKDM in seizing various types of drugs worth more than RM21.3 million from January to August 31 this year.
“Drugs recorded the highest seizure with 27 cases which is usually brought in via river at the Malaysia-Thailand border.
“The public is urged to help the JKDM combat smuggling crimes, especially drugs, cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, vehicles and others and are advised not to get involved in the activities in question.
“Smuggling not only harms the country in terms of revenue leakage, but also poses a threat to national security and the well-being of the people,” he said. - September 23, 2025
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