Central zone customs assistant director Sabri Saad said the offences include attempts to avoid tax, the storage and sale of smuggled cigarettes and alcohol, as well as an attempt to smuggle in four containers of contraband alcohol.

“Four containers were seized in Port Klang on May 25, June 8 and June 21 under Op Kontraban 1 while Op Kontraban 2 was carried out from July 18 to 27, throughout the Klang Valley via an integrated operation by the Federal Territories, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur International Airport customs offices.

“The seized containers were loaded with contraband alcohol worth RM902,000, various brands of cigarettes (Lambo, Zarda, Shimla Pan Masala) worth RM58,640, and ‘zam zam’ water worth RM180,380,” he told reporters at the Kelana Jaya Customs Complex here today.

Sabri said all the products in the containers seized by the customs were actually goods that had been banned from being imported into the country.

He said these goods were falsely declared as other products in an attempt to fool the authorities.

“Eighteen individuals, aged between 20 and 40, have been detained for their involvement in the various offences related to the seized items. We have opened investigations on 30 cases,” he said.

The cases are being investigated under Section 135(1) (a) and (d) of the Customs Act 1967.