According to a MACC source, the syndicate was supported by customs officers who worked in cahoots with company directors.

They said investigators had been watching those involved for three months and arrested them yesterday evening.

During the operation dubbed Op Airways, MACC detained six customs officers and eight others, including six company directors, in separate raids across KLIA and Kuala Lumpur.

The commission also seized RM250,000 in cash, as well as luxury items including watches, jewellery, handbags, desktop computers and two lorries believed to be linked to the smuggling activities.

MACC also intercepted two lorries with the illicit consignments leaving the KLIA cargo inspection facility.

Raids at two company warehouses uncovered 122,000 illegal vapes worth approximately RM7.3 million in unpaid taxes.

In one lorry alone, investigators found 32,000 vapes with a tax value of RM1.9 million. Another raid uncovered 90,000 vapes worth RM5.4 million in unpaid duties.

They also found thousands of vapes at a third warehouse. No specifics were given for the third warehouse.

The source said the syndicate paid customs officers thousands of ringgit per consignment to bypass X-ray scanning and other inspections.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the arrests, and said the case is being investigated under Sections 16 and 17 of the MACC Act 2009 for accepting gratification.

A total of 12 people – six customs officers, four company directors and two others – have been remanded until Jan 25, while one company director will be remanded until Jan 26. One director was released on MACC bail.

Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin issued the remand orders this morning at the magistrates’ court in Putrajaya.