Its director, Nadzri Ariffin, said four major cases accounted for the most seizures and duties, involving liquor, frozen food products, cigarettes and rice.

In the first case, he said, officers seized liquor worth RM316,626.54 from a lorry in Sitiawan on Aug 13.

“A 38-year-old local man, who was the driver and owner of the vehicle, was also detained after checks revealed that the liquor was a prohibited item under the Customs Duty Order.

“The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 and can be prosecuted under the same provision,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Perak customs headquarters today.

Nadzri said the second case involved the seizure of 14,004 packets of frozen chicken tails weighing 29,000kg, worth RM289,275, at Port Klang, Selangor, on Aug 12.

“The items were brought in from China and seized as they were not listed as approved by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services,” he said.

In the third case, various brands of white and kretek cigarettes worth RM162,240.10 were seized from an abandoned house in Kampung Keramat, Bagan Serai, on Aug 6.

“No arrests were made, but information received suggests that the cigarettes were intended for the local market,” Nadzri said.

On Aug 14, meanwhile, officers seized 6.6 tonnes of rice worth RM29,691.20 from a warehouse in Shah Alam, Selangor, believed to have been imported without a valid permit.