Customs bust ring smuggling 25,000 litres of zam zam water

Customs officers foiled an attempt to smuggle in a container-load of zam zam water worth RM187,500. (Facebook pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Three smuggling syndicates have been crippled in a space of three days by the Customs department, including one that was smuggling 25,000 litres of zam zam water.

The other two syndicates were smuggling cigarettes and tobacco. All three were busted in Port Klang and Shah Alam between Jan 27 and Jan 29.

Customs director-general Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir told Bernama that central zone unit II (Selangor) enforcement division team managed to foil an attempt to smuggle what is believed to be zam zam water using a 40ft container at Port Klang on Jan 27.

He added that zam zam, which is water drawn from the Zamzam well in Mekkah, is classified as a prohibited item. He said that when officers inspected the container, they found that it was listed as personal effects in the Customs import form.

“The quantity seized is estimated to be around 25,000 litres worth RM187,500 with a tax value of RM48,750,” he said in a statement today.

Abdul Latif said that the importer and forwarding agent suspected of involvement in the import of zam zam water are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.

In the second case involving the smuggling of white cigarettes, Abdul Latif said the department foiled the attempt on Jan 28 in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, when they seized 2.3 million cigarettes bearing the “Zon King” brand with an estimated value of RM184,000 and an estimated tax value of RM1.5 million from a lorry with a 40ft container.

He said that the lorry driver, a local man aged 51, was detained for further investigation.

For the third case, the tobacco smuggling, Abdul Latif said the syndicate was brought down on Jan 29 in Port Klang with the the seizure of 15,000kg of tobacco in a container with an estimated value of RM225,000 and a tax value of RM1.15 million.

He said the shipping agent suspected of involvement had been identified and efforts to track down the individual was underway.

Abdul Latif urged the public to assist the Customs to curb smuggling, which not only robbed the country of its tax revenue but also posed a threat to national security. - FMT