KOTA KINABALU (ANN/THE STAR) – Customs officers in Sabah have foiled a series of smuggling attempts involving various contraband items — including over 40kg of syabu — during separate operations across the east coast throughout March.
The total value of the seizures, which included ketum (kratom), fireworks, illicit cigarettes and a vehicle, amounted to MYR3,344,312.35.
Sabah Customs Assistant Director-General (performing duties) Saidin Jalaluddin said these successes were the result of both public tip-offs and the department’s continuous enforcement efforts.
“A team from the Semporna Customs enforcement unit found two suspicious boxes during an inspection at the terminal,” he said during a press conference at Menara Kastam Sabah, on Wednesday (April 9).
“They were later found to contain the drugs.”
Saidin said the smugglers had used the bus terminal as a hiding spot to avoid detection by authorities, adding that investigations are ongoing to identify the drug syndicate behind the attempt.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
In a separate case in Tawau on March 6, Customs officers seized nine boxes containing 125kg of green powder suspected to be ketum.
“The suspect used a private bus to smuggle the substance,” said Saidin, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.
The third case involved the seizure of fireworks and firecrackers, with major finds reported in Lahad Datu and Sandakan.
“On March 18 in Lahad Datu, we seized fireworks worth MYR1,130,640 with unpaid duties of MYR737,239. A separate seizure in Sandakan on March 11 involved 6.84kg of firecrackers worth MYR943,” he said.
None of the seized items had valid import permits, and the cases are being investigated under the Explosives Act 1957 and Customs Act 1967.
In another case, non-duty-paid cigarettes were found in two separate vehicles on March 10 and 12, with the total seizure worth over MYR24,000.
“The final case on March 13 involved the seizure of a sedan car worth MYR15,000 with duties amounting to MYR12,875. The vehicle had overstayed its authorised entry period in the peninsula,” he said, adding the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
