The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has launched 36 investigations and detained 35 traders, both local and foreign, suspected of selling smuggled cigarettes and liquor during Op Royal, which began on Aug 12 in Kuala Lumpur.

Customs Central Zone assistant director-general Norlela Ismail said over 5,000 litres of liquor and 727,801 cigarettes worth more than RM2.1 million were seized in the operation, which involved inspecting 85 premises, including supermarkets, public markets, and warehouses.

‘Initial investigations show these traders sold illicit goods only to regular customers. We are working to uncover the full modus operandi,’ she said at a press conference on the operation in Chow Kit here, today.

The detainees were being investigated under Section 135 of the Customs Act 1967.

Norlela said the operation, conducted in collaboration with the Special Branch of the Kuala Lumpur Police, aimed to curb the sale of contraband as outlined in the Customs Regulations 2019.

She urged the public to report sm
uggling activities via the Customs Toll-Free Line at 1-800-88-8855, assuring that informants’ identities would be kept confidential.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency