17/12/2025

WEDNESDAY | DEC 17, 2025

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Customs seize RM62.5m worth of cannabis in raid

Manager loses RM2.54m in phone scam

KUANTAN: have dismantled a syndicate specialising in the creation of fraudulent applications following a raid at a house in Puncak Lestari, Mentakab, Temerloh. State police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said eight suspects were arrested at about 6.50pm on Dec 2, comprising five local men and women, two Chinese nationals and one Indonesian woman. “They are aged between 29 and 39. The group was also involved in a non-existent foreign currency exchange scam targeting victims in China,” he said at a press conference at the Pahang police contingent headquarters yesterday. Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects had occupied the premises since July and were allegedly working as customer service officers, earning monthly salaries ranging from RM2,500 to RM4,000. The operation marked the third scam centre dismantled in Pahang this year, following earlier raids in Genting Highlands and Bera. Yahaya also highlighted a worrying rise in fraud-related losses, noting that cases recorded between January and November this year amounted to RM90.3 million, up from just over RM80 million during the same period last year. – Bernama Pahang police dismantle fraud app syndicate He added that investigations are ongoing to trace the syndicate’s network, with the case being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. – Bernama Pahang police GEORGE TOWN: A private company manager lost more than RM2.54 million after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate that falsely accused him of involvement in criminal activities in an incident here recently. Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the 54-year-old man was deceived after receiving a call at his home in George Town on Feb 21 from an individual claiming to be a cybersecurity officer. He said the suspect alleged that 16 complaints had been lodged against the victim’s phone number, purportedly linked to investment scams and the dissemination of false information. “The victim denied the allegations and was instructed to lodge an online police report, after which the call was allegedly connected to a Bukit Aman police officer who questioned him and claimed he was also suspected of money laundering and drug trafficking,” he said in a statement yesterday. Azizee added that the suspect later threatened the victim with arrest if he failed to comply with instructions given for investigation purposes. He added that the victim was subsequently told to open three bank accounts and leave the ATM cards together with their personal identification numbers in front of his house, with assurances that the items would be returned after the investigation. “Between March 4 and Sept 22, the victim made 12 fund transfers into the newly opened accounts. The suspect continued to demand additional payments until the victim ran out of money on Dec 13,”he said. Azizee said the victim lodged a police report at the Timur Laut district police headquarters last Sunday after realising he had been cheated.

cannabis flowers recorded this year,” she said, noting that cannabis flowers command higher prices than conventional drugs. She added that the drugs were likely destined for overseas markets, with packaging carried out locally, and that the narcotics may have originated from a neighbouring country. The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Siti urged members of the public to provide information by calling the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855 or contacting the nearest Customs office, assuring that informants’ identities would be kept confidential.

drugs in bedsheet boxes to avoid detection by authorities,” she said. “The boxes were labelled as microfibre bedsheets and are believed to have been intended for shipment abroad. This activity is believed to have been ongoing since September,” she said, as reported by Bernama. Siti said no arrests were made as the syndicate members are believed to have fled after detecting the presence of Customs officers, adding that efforts are under way to track those involved. “Based on available information, the house was rented under the name of a foreign national, although local involvement cannot be ruled out. This is the largest seizure of

o A total of 638kg of cannabis flowers found at rented house used as packaging site, efforts underway to track down syndicate members

NILAI: The Customs Department seized 638kg of cannabis flowers valued at RM62.5 million following a raid in Seri Kembangan on Dec 2. Customs (Enforcement and Compliance) deputy director general Datuk Siti Mang said enforcement officers discovered 17 parcel boxes and several aluminium foil packages containing green plant matter believed to be cannabis flowers during the 3.50pm raid at a

double-storey terrace house. She added that officers also seized a motorcycle, weighing equipment and a heat-sealing machine from the premises, with the items sent to the narcotics branch of the enforcement division at Customs headquarters. “The house was rented and is believed to have been used as a packaging site for cannabis flowers, with the syndicate concealing the

Siti Mang (second from right) showing the drug packages during a press conference today. – BERNAMAPIC

S’gor Customs seize smuggled goods worth over RM26m

PORT KLANG: The Selangor Customs Department has foiled attempts to smuggle four types of commodities, namely cigarettes, vehicles, steel coils and liquor, with a total value of RM26.24 million, including duties and taxes. Its director Mohamad Azhar Ahmad Paharazi said the seizures were carried out under Operation Fortex Trident, conducted around Port Klang and Shah Alam from October to early November. During raids at the West Port Free Zone on Oct 29 and Nov 4, enforcement officers seized more than 28.8 million sticks of white cigarettes from three 40-foot transshipment containers that had been falsely declared as garments. “Inspection of the first container uncovered 10 million sticks of white cigarettes declared as clothing, while inspections of the second and third containers revealed 18.81 million sticks,” he said at a press

free zone warehouse and a premises in Shah Alam. Mohamad Azhar said a raid at a duty-free shop in West Port on Oct 30 uncovered 1,573.4 litres of alcoholic beverages with unpaid duties and taxes, with the shop’s licence also found to have expired. A subsequent raid on Oct 14 and Nov 4 at a free zone warehouse in North Port uncovered 16 pallets of wooden crates containing 2,562 litres of alcoholic beverages falsely declared as salad dressing and stools. He added that a further raid at a retail shop in Shah Alam uncovered 752.11 litres of alcoholic beverages believed to have been imported without an import permit. “All three cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for importing prohibited goods without an import permit,” he added. – Bernama

under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for concealing, storing or harbouring uncustomed or prohibited goods, while the electric vehicle case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the same Act for importing prohibited goods.” The same operation also led to the seizure of 28 steel coils weighing 108,874kg from four 20-foot containers at the North Port Free Zone on Oct 22. Investigations found the steel coils had been imported without permits from the Miti and were subject to anti-dumping duties of 52.1%. The total value of the seizure amounted to RM909,642, including taxes and anti-dumping duties. Meanwhile, Customs also seized various alcoholic beverages worth RM807,646, including duties and taxes, following raids and inspections at a duty-free shop, a

conference at the North Port Customs office on Monday. “The estimated value of the 28.81 million sticks of white cigarettes is RM3,705,200, with duties and taxes amounting to RM19,798,940.” In cases involving imported vehicles, Mohamad Azhar said three petrol-powered vehicles and two electric vehicles, valued at RM1.02 million, were seized in two raids at Port Klang and a Port Klang Free Zone warehouse on Oct 17 and 25. The vehicles were found to have been stored beyond the permitted storage period in licensed warehouses, with duties and taxes unpaid. He said the three luxury vehicles, including a BMW and a Porsche, were used cars, while the electric vehicles were new models believed to have been imported without permits issued by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti). “The cases are being investigated