Malaysia customs seizes RM38 million in smuggled cigarettes

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has intercepted multiple attempts to smuggle large quantities of white cigarettes into Malaysia, with total values including duties and taxes exceeding RM38 million.

In Klang, authorities discovered 48.78 million sticks of undeclared cigarettes within four transshipment containers arriving from an Asian country. The seizure is valued at approximately RM3.902 million for the goods, with an additional RM33.658 million in unpaid duties and taxes.

In separate operations at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Free Trade Zone, customs officials seized an additional 1.53 million cigarettes. In one instance, smugglers attempted to disguise 410,000 cigarettes as bed linen. In another, 1.12 million cigarettes were declared as slippers to avoid detection and import permits. These goods were reportedly intended for the local market or transit to the Oceania region.