By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, Jan 12: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Sarawak seized illicit cigarettes and alcoholic beverages worth RM7.29 million following a raid on a residential house in Sibu last month.
In the operation carried out on Dec 19, 2025 at about 9.15pm, customs officers from the Enforcement Division of JKDM Sarikei seized 6,766,400 sticks of cigarettes and 89,416.80 litres of liquor suspected to be untaxed and prohibited imports.
According to a media statement, the seizure was the result of intelligence information from the Customs Headquarters, which led officers to a house at Lorong Rantau Panjang Jaya 3H here.
The total value of the seized cigarettes and liquor was estimated at RM1.21 million, while the import duties and taxes involved amounted to about RM6.08 million, bringing the overall value of the seizure to RM7,288,455.05.
Customs said the items are believed to fall under prohibited goods as stipulated in the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.
Investigations found that the cigarettes and liquor were stored in a residential premises to avoid detection by authorities.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for possession or storage of non duty paid or prohibited goods. Upon conviction, offenders can be fined not less than ten times the amount of customs duty or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than twenty times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher, or jailed for between six months and five years, or both.
Customs also urged the public to cooperate in combating smuggling activities involving cigarettes, liquor, fireworks, drugs, vehicles and other contraband by providing information through the Customs toll free line at 1-800-88-8855 or at the nearest Customs office. The department assured that the identity of informants will be kept confidential. — DayakDaily
