Customs testing e-seal device to prevent smuggling of goods

PUTRAJAYA - The Malaysian Customs Department is studying and testing the effectiveness of electronic security devices to prevent smuggling and collection of national revenue.

Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the new technology developed by a local company known as e-seal can also improve cargo security and track the movements of containers and lorries.

"If the device is opened before the set time then it will signal the control centre so they can take immediate action," he said.

He said the technology, which had been widely used in five East African countries, will monitor the logistic movements of containers and commercial lorries.

"The customs department can detect if a lorry stops for too long in a certain area," he said in a press conference after a work visit to Cthe department here, today.

Ahmad said the implementation of e-seal in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo has increased tax collection by 20 percent.

"We also hope it can increase the customs tax revenue by 20 per cent," he said.

He said a pilot test involving several companies in Gelang Patah had been conducted for several weeks now to analyse the movement and transactions of the device.

"It had worked well during the pilot test," he said, hoping that the technology can be implemented soon.

When asked about the location of the control centre for the device, Ahmad said it hadn't been decided yet.

"Customs offices are everywhere and the control center will be determined later after it is finalised," he said.

In the meantime, Ahmad said Customs does not compromise on smuggling activities in this country.

He said as one of the agencies responsible in collecting the country's tax revenue and enforcement of entry to the country, the customs department is always strict in enforcing the law.

"This is proven during first five months of 2023, the department had seized a total of 2,410.224 kilograms (kg) of drugs worth RM81.39 million," he said.

He said the largest amount of drugs confiscated was 1,307,010 kg of cannabis followed by MDMA Ecstasy (1,071,141 kg), Methamphetamine (21.56 kg), Heroin (3,736 kg) and Eramin 5 (10,003 pills).

"The customs department had also successfully foiled attempts to smuggle subsidised goods such as diesel, cooking oil, petrol and sugar with 100 cases involving goods worth RM573,688.07 last year," said Ahmad.

Meanwhile, in 2023 until last April, a total of 48 cases had been solved involving a confiscation value of RM432,659.48.