17 Customs officers held, millions seized in Port Klang smuggling probe
PUTRAJAYA: Officers from the Customs Department are among 17 individuals detained to assist in a corruption probe, believed to have caused leakages of RM3.5 billion in Port Klang.
It is learnt that officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had seized cash worth RM4.4mil believed to have been obtained by the said Customs officers through corrupt practices.
Of the 17 individuals detained, 11 of them are Customs officers. The other six suspects are company directors and staff, as well as a runner and his lover.
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Sources with knowledge of the investigation said that four Yamaha XMAX worth RM28,000, a Toyota Alphard valued at more than RM200,000, a BMW car, jewellery, luxury watches, and a plot of land — all believed to have been bought in cash — were also seized.
“These are some of the items which MACC investigators have managed to detect and seize for now.
“The authorities have also frozen 12 accounts under companies and individuals worth RM2mil.
“Investigators are also in the process of tracking other accounts believed to have been used by suspects of this syndicate,” said a source.
It is learnt that the MACC had worked closely with the Customs Department to inspect all the 19 containers which had been seized earlier and found that the syndicate had made false declarations on the contents, including claiming that the goods were, among others, wheelchairs, textiles, and non-taxable health equipment.
“However, when checks were made, it was found that the containers carried items such as LED lights, solar panels, motorcycle accessories, sport rims and canned processed pork,” the same source said.
Authorities estimated that the tax on the goods reached millions of ringgit.
“This is among the biggest successes by the MACC in dealing with corruption among enforcement officers and leakages in government revenue,” said the source.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests.
“We are actively hunting for the mastermind of this syndicate through cooperation with foreign agencies,” he said.
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