Malaysia cracks down on illicit sales

Malaysia’s Customs Department officers have seized 131 million smuggled cigarettes since the launch of a nationwide operation in January, according to a story in the New Straits Times.

The seized products were said to be worth MYR73.64 million in value and unpaid duties.

Customs Director-general Datuk Seri Khazali Ahmad said his officers had checked 2,618 premises, as of May 15, and found 999 to have been selling illicit cigarettes.

He said 227 traders had been charged: 129 with selling and the rest with possessing smuggled cigarettes.
“The longest jail term was six months,” he added.

Khazali said the department had established new and efficient strategies for its latest crackdown, known as Op Outlet.

He said one of the strategies had been to establish in every state “strike teams” that focused on raiding premises identified as selling illicit cigarettes.

The premises were identified by firstly carrying out test purchases at those outlets suspected of selling illicit cigarettes.