JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) has seized five undeclared used cars of various brands with an estimated value of RM192,390 including tax in a raid at a container depot at Jalan Emas 3, Pasir Gudang last month.
Johor RMCD director Sazali Mohamad said his team found the vehicles after conducting an inspection on a 40-foot (12.2 metre) container at the location at around 6.30 pm, Oct 21, based on a tip off by the public.
He said the cars, a Toyota Vitz, a Toyota FunCargo, a Toyota Allion, a Nissan March and a Nissan Xtrail were believed to be from Singapore.
“All the cars were placed in a container which was declared empty at the Pasir Gudang port. The value of the cars seized is RM79,500 while the tax value is RM112,890,” he told reporters during a media conference at Menara Kastam Johor today.
Sazali said his team also detained a 31-year-old man believed to be a worker of a container import company to aid investigations. He was released on RM50,000 bail.
He added that the case was being investigated under Section 135(1)(A) of the Customs Act 1967 that provides a maximum fine of RM500,000 or a prison sentence of up to five years or both
In an unrelated case, he said his team also foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs to a neighbouring country on Oct 24, after the Sungai Pulai Customs enforcement team successfully intercepted a fibre glass boat powered by a 40 horsepower engine in the waters of Pontian at around 10 am.
“When the boat reached Sungai Benut, Pontian, the two men in the boat jumped overboard and escaped into the mangrove forest.
“Checks on the boat found four plastic packages with the words ‘guanyinwang’ written on it in a blue bag and a tin of white paint containing crystal powder believed to be methamphetamine,“ he said.
According to him, the total amount of drugs seized was around 3.36 kilogrammes with an estimated value of RM217,860 and is believed to be destined for a neighbouring country.
No arrests were made and the case will be investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, he added. — Bernama
