KANGAR, Jan 17 — The Perlis division of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) seized various drugs and undeclared goods worth RM13,714,628.36, with a tax value of RM9,024,434.71 during enforcement activities last year.
Its director Ismail Hashim said this was the result of strategic cooperation between units, branches, and sections under the JKDM through the implementation of the Cekap, Tangkas, dan Berintegriti approach.
"These confiscations involved items including cigarettes, alcohol, firecrackers, vehicles, diesel and petrol, cooking oil, as well drugs," he said during a press conference at the JKDM Enforcement/Marine Branch in Kuala Perlis today.
Meanwhile, the Perlis JKDM seized 89 compressed blocks or 89.481 kg of cannabis, estimated to be worth RM275,900, during an inspection in the Bukit Putih mangrove forest area in Kuala Perlis at 3.30pm on January 6.
"The inspection resulted in the discovery of four gunny sacks left in the mangrove forest. The modus operandi is believed to involve leaving the gunny sacks suspected to contain cannabis in the mangrove forest area, and it is believed that they would be picked up by other individuals," Ismail said.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The Perlis JKDM also seized 1,370 kg of ketum leaves worth an estimated RM54,800 from two unregistered fibre boats during separate sea patrols in the waters off Sungai Padang, Simpang Empat on January 10.
"During the patrols, two teams of Customs Enforcement/Marine officers from Kuala Perlis gave chase to the two boats that were speeding towards Thailand in the waters off Sungai Padang.
"When the team approached both boats and ordered them to stop, the boat drivers sped towards shallow waters, and two men in each boat jumped into the waters and swam to shore, leaving the boats behind," he said.
Similarly 820 kg of ketum leaves worth an estimated RM32,800 were found in the first boat, while the second boat contained 550 kg of the leaves worth RM22,000.
The Perlis JKDN believes the smugglers' modus operandi is to transport the leaves by boat to be exported to Thailand.
Ismail said the case is being investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952.
— Bernama
