Sabah Cheap Booze coming to an end!

Sabah booze are super cheap, almost RM3 a can but this could all come to end if the police keep seizing smuggle booze for their own use. More than RM1 million was seized in a customs raid last week. The seized booze was valued at RM361,600 while unpaid duties amounted to RM978,974.

Customs deputy director-general Dato’ Hajah Mardina Haji Alwi told a press conference here yesterday.

The contraband booze – 6,780 cartons of Carlsberg beer and 22,260 cartons of Royal Stout – was found inside four 20-foot containers detained at the Merdeka port area at about 9am on April 7.

Mardina said a public tip-off led to the seizure of the booze. Another 40 cartons each containing 24 bottles of liquor worth RM4,800 with unpaid duties of RM39,840, were seized on April 14 at about 9pm near the barter trade jetty here.

She said the two cases were being probed under Section 135 (1) (e) of the Customs Act. In the event of conviction, the offenders are liable to a fine between 10 and 20 times the value of the seized booze or a jail term of up to three years or both in the event of conviction.

“We have not made any arrest yet but we are investigating,” she said. Mardina also said the Labuan customs had also seized other contraband goods worth RM111,373 with unpaid duties amounting to RM153,362 so far this year. She meanwhile urged the public to call 1-800-888-55 or 087-466706 to report smuggling activities.

“Help us curb smuggling,” she said. Also present at the press conference was Labuan customs director Haji Ghani Osman.