Customs central zone assistant director-general Norlela Ismail said the warehouse was believed to have been operating for three years.

She said the 1pm raid, codenamed Ops Publika, was based on intelligence and public complaints.

“The primary method (of smuggling) was falsely declaring the items as children’s toys on Customs Form 1. These goods were then brought to the logistics warehouse for storage, before being sold in bulk to local wholesalers,” she said at a press conference.

Norlela said a 60-year-old man, who worked as the warehouse supervisor, was detained but later released on bail.

She said the authorities were trying to trace the company or importing agents.

Norlela added that as part of Ops Publika, her team carried out 40 raids from May 13 to 24, recovering various undeclared goods such as white cigarettes, kretek cigarettes and alcohol at several premises around the Klang Valley.

She said 3,500 litres of alcohol and 355,100 cigarettes were seized, with an estimated unpaid duty value of RM475,000.

“Sixteen individuals were detained to assist with the investigations, with officers still working to ascertain the methods of smuggling.

“Twenty-six investigation papers have been opened for offences under Section 135 of the Customs Act 1967,” she said.

Norlela added that Ops Publika recovered RM3.5 million worth of seized goods, in which RM1.8 million was owed in unpaid taxes.