JOHOR BARU: A huge consignment of seized cigarettes, totalling about RM1mil, has gone missing from a Customs enforcement warehouse here, with the authorities now tracking down those behind the theft. The disappearance, said to be the biggest ever, comprised more than 20,000 cartons of cigarettes from the warehouse in Larkin.
The big warehouse stores seized items including cigarettes, liquor, fireworks, vehicles and others worth millions of ringgit. It is learnt the contraband – part of a consignment of more than RM2mil seized during raids – were found missing during a random check several days ago. A police report has been lodged over the matter.
Sources said Customs was also conducting an internal probe to ascertain how the boxes were removed without permission from a high-security area. “Usually all the seized goods are kept in the store until the court cases are over before they are taken out to be destroyed,” said the source, adding that there have been several cases of missing cigarettes and liquor in the past but not involving such a huge quantity.
It is learnt the department is tightening procedures to prevent such thefts from recurring, including how private contractors are engaged by the department to transport seized goods to be kept at the warehouse and out when they are to be destroyed. It is also not known whether the missing contraband cigarettes will affect the case in court.
Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Sulaiman Salleh, when contacted, said a report was lodged, saying that police were investigating the case under Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust. He said so far, no arrests had been made but police were not ruling out an inside job. “We are also looking at the possibility of outsiders being involved,” he said. Those with information can contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999.
