ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Customs Department scored its biggest seizure of contraband firecrackers and fireworks and cigarettes worth RM110,742 at a house in Jitra in this year’s Ops Raya.
Its director Datuk Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir said his team raided the house, which was under suspicion for storage and distribution of the goods, last Sunday.
The firecrackers and fireworks had unpaid taxes of RM36,759 while the 450,000 sticks of cigarettes seized had unpaid excise of RM243,251, he added.
He said the 47-year-old owner of the house was arrested and faces a fine of up to 20 times the value of the seized items or a maximum three years’ jail or both, if convicted.
The seizure was part of the department’s raids under Ops Raya which was launched on June 2.
In all, firecrackers and fireworks worth RM95,846 with unpaid excise of RM67,041 as well as cigarettes valued at RM45,100, with duties of RM243,251, were netted.
