THE Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Penang has seized more than nine million sticks of smuggled white cigarettes worth nearly RM10 million, including unpaid duties, following the interception of a container imported from Vietnam at Port Klang last December.
Penang Customs director Rohaizad Ali said the container was detained by the department’s enforcement division at about 10.40am on December 24.
Checks on the manifest declaration showed that the consignment had been declared as furniture.
“This can be seen when a detailed inspection found 930 boxes labelled ‘furniture’, where close inspection revealed that 908 boxes contained more than nine million sticks of white cigarettes and only 22 boxes actually contained furniture.
“This was done to deceive enforcement authorities,” he said during a press conference at the State Prevention Complex lobby in Perai on Friday.
Rohaizad said the importation of cigarettes is only permitted with a valid import permit, in line with Part II of Schedule III of the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.
“All cigarettes valued at more than RM9.9 million, including duties, have been seized for further action. The case is still under investigation,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.
In a separate operation in Selangor, police arrested two foreign men and seized smuggled liquor worth more than RM1 million during Op Kontraban in Subang Jaya on Wednesday.
The operation, conducted at about 6.30am, involved the Selangor Internal Security and Public Order Department together with the Subang Jaya district police headquarters, following intelligence on the storage and sale of smuggled alcohol at the location.
Surveillance revealed boxes suspected to contain liquor being unloaded from a bonded lorry into a premises, prompting an immediate raid.
Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar said the raid led to the arrest of two foreign men aged between 25 and 35 at the scene.
“Further inspection of the premises found various types of liquor and untaxed cigarettes, as well as two bonded lorries believed to be used for distribution.
“The seizure involved 17,972 bottles and 2,796 cans of liquor of various brands, as well as 450 cartons of cigarettes, with a total estimated value of RM1,009,174,” he said in a statement on Friday.
He added that police also seized vehicles valued at about RM214,000, bringing the total value of the seizure to RM1,223,174.
“Initial investigations found that the premises had been used as a storage facility for about five months, with the liquor supply intended for distribution in the Subang Jaya market.
“Investigations also found that the suspects printed fake customs labels to be affixed to liquor bottles before distribution to mislead buyers and evade enforcement action,” he said.
Shazeli said the large volume of seized goods was believed to be preparation to meet market demand ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1963. - February 6, 2026
