Singaporean man mastermind of contraband liquor and cigarettes syndicate
ZULHISHAM ISAHAK
JOHOR BAHRU - A syndicate distributing contraband liquor and cigarettes was busted by the Simpang Renggam General Operations Force (GOF), on Sunday, with the arrest of six people including Myanmar nationals and a Singaporean man in two raid near a resort in Senai, here.
GOF 5th Battalion commanding officer Supt Mohd Razali Melin said during the raids carried out at about 9.30am, three local men and three foreigners were nabbed to facilitate in the investigation.
"During the raid, three local men aged between 38 and 31, a 31-year old man and a 33-year old woman from Myanmar and a Singaporean man aged 60, were arrested.
"In the first raid, GOF seized among others 1,756 cans of liquor of various brands, 50 cartons of cigarettes, a Honda Accord car, a BMW X6, a Nissan MV 200 van and a Toyota Harrier multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
"We have also confiscated cash worth RM102,600, SGD$304 (around RM970) and a Rado Diaster watch," he said in a statement on Sunday night.
He added that in the second raid, GOF seized a total of 9,960 cans and 1,114 bottles of liquor of various brands, 200 cartons of cigarettes and a Perodua Alza MPV.
Mohd Razali said initial investigations found that the syndicate had been operating for more than four years and a series of arrests of individuals linked to the syndicate had been made, but their smuggling activities were still going on.
He said it is also believed that the Singaporean suspect known as Kenny, was the mastermind of the syndicate.
The value of the contraband liquor and cigarettes that were seized, he said was RM704, 370, while the total value of the seizure was over RM1.1 million.
The arrests and seizures, he said, had managed to crack down the non-taxable liquor and cigarette distribution syndicates around Kulai and Johor Bahru.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 and the arrested individuals and the items that have been seized were handed over to the Kulai District Police Headquarters (IPD) for further action.
He also asked the public who have information on contraband goods and the entry of illegal immigrants to contact the GOF 5th Battalion intelligence/operations office hotline at 07-7557280.
