Tue, May 05, 2009
The Star/Asia News Network (Malyasia)
BUTTERWORTH, Malaysia: The Customs Department has arrested a man and seized 8.3kg of heroin with street value of RM1.9mil (S$796,670) at a hotel in Prai, near here.
He said the 30-year-old suspect has been remanded for a week to facilitate investigations, which included determining the extent of his network.
"He is liable to be charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act which carries the death penalty upon conviction," Md Hassim told a press conference at the state Customs headquarters in Prai yesterday.
He also announced three other seizures made last month which included a container laden with 2,546 boxes of frozen oxtails worth some RM150,000.
He said several people were unloading the container behind a shop in Bukit Mertajam at 11pm on April 14 when Customs officers nabbed them.
"We believe the goods were brought in from a neighbouring country without a permit. We detained five people for questioning, two of whom were released after their statements were recorded," Md Hassim said.
He said the department seized a container laden with 475 cartons of contraband cigarettes from Cambodia worth RM120,175 at the North Butterworth Container Terminal on April 28 and RM106,000 worth of smuggled alcoholic drinks from a house in Bakau Street on the island the next day.
He said unpaid duties for the cigarettes amounted to RM1.92mil while those for the alcoholic drinks were RM205,000.
Md Hassim said the cigarette smugglers tried to fool the authorities by declaring the consignment as spools.
He said the 30-year-old suspect has been remanded for a week to facilitate investigations, which included determining the extent of his network.
"He is liable to be charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act which carries the death penalty upon conviction," Md Hassim told a press conference at the state Customs headquarters in Prai yesterday.
He also announced three other seizures made last month which included a container laden with 2,546 boxes of frozen oxtails worth some RM150,000.
He said several people were unloading the container behind a shop in Bukit Mertajam at 11pm on April 14 when Customs officers nabbed them.
"We believe the goods were brought in from a neighbouring country without a permit. We detained five people for questioning, two of whom were released after their statements were recorded," Md Hassim said.
He said the department seized a container laden with 475 cartons of contraband cigarettes from Cambodia worth RM120,175 at the North Butterworth Container Terminal on April 28 and RM106,000 worth of smuggled alcoholic drinks from a house in Bakau Street on the island the next day.
He said unpaid duties for the cigarettes amounted to RM1.92mil while those for the alcoholic drinks were RM205,000.
Md Hassim said the cigarette smugglers tried to fool the authorities by declaring the consignment as spools.
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