Seized Goods Worth Over RM7.28 Million: Contraband Cigarettes and Liquor Stashed in Sibu Residence

(Sibu, 12th) The Sarawak Sarikei Enforcement Unit of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department successfully uncovered a case involving contraband cigarettes and liquor, seizing a large quantity of untaxed cigarettes and alcoholic beverages from a residence in Sibu, totaling RM7,288,455.05 in value including duties and taxes.
The Customs Department issued a statement saying that at around 9:15pm on December 19, 2025, acting on intelligence received from headquarters, enforcement officers conducted an operation and raided a house located on Lane 3H, Rantau Panjang Jaya, Sibu, where they discovered a significant amount of suspected smuggled cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
During the operation, officers seized a total of 6,766,400 sticks of cigarettes and 89,416.80 liters of alcoholic beverages. The goods are believed to be untaxed and suspected as prohibited items under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023. Preliminary estimates put the value of the seized goods themselves at around RM1,209,043.20, while the import duties and taxes involved are as high as RM6,079,411.85.

The Customs Department noted that the suspects are believed to have stored the contraband cigarettes and liquor in the residential unit in an attempt to evade detection by authorities. The case is now being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, and investigations are ongoing.
According to the relevant provisions, if found guilty, offenders may be fined not less than 10 times the amount of the unpaid duty or RM100,000 (whichever is higher), and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000 (whichever is higher), or be imprisoned for 6 months to 5 years, or both.
The Customs Department also urges the public to actively cooperate with enforcement agencies by providing information regarding smuggling activities, especially those involving cigarettes, liquor, fireworks, drugs, and vehicles. The public may call the Customs Department's toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-8855 or report to the nearest state Customs office. The authorities guarantee strict confidentiality for all informants.