KOTA KINABALU - The Sabah Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has foiled an attempt to smuggle in liquor worth RM1.568 million including taxes at the Sepanggar Port, here, last Friday.
The alcoholic beverages stored in three separate containers were seized by the department.
In the incident at about 10.50am, there were 9,000 boxes of liquor confiscated along with tissues in the containers believed to be used as an attempt to fool the authorities.
Sabah's Customs Director General Julaiman Soimin said the department has successfully identified the syndicate following the discovery of a suspicious image when the containers went through the scanning machine.
"The result of the scan found that there were suspicious items in the container, however, the document was found to have declared the items as tissues.
"Further checks found that the three containers contained a total of 9,000 boxes of liquor of various brands with an estimated market value of RM658,000 involving taxes of around RM910,00.
"All the goods involved are believed to be imported from foreign countries for the local market," he told reporters at the Sepanggar Port, here, on Friday.
Julaiman however said no arrests have been made so far.
"The case is being investigated under Section 135 of the Customs Act 1967," he said.