pix by DANIAL SAAD
BUTTERWORTH: A container containing over nine million sticks of contraband cigarettes worth RM7.92 million with taxes has been seized by the Customs Department.
Penang Customs Department director Roselan Ramli said the container was detected at the North Port, Port Klang, about 10.40am on March 7.
He said the import manifest for the container was declared as furniture.
"However, upon further checks, we found 900 MasterCase, equivalent to nine million sticks of cigarettes worth RM1.8 million and taxes amounting to RM6.12 million.
"Initial investigation revealed the container was handled by a shipping company with a branch in Port Klang and imported by a private limited company in Selangor.
"From documents obtained, we believe the items are believed to be from an East Asia country," he told a press conference here today.
Roselan said further investigation was ongoing to identify the person behind the smuggling activity.
The case is being probed under the Customs Act 1967 and Excise Act 1976.
