Ops Purple: Customs seizes 32 vehicles worth RM8.45m in Kuala Lumpur warehouse raid

Ops Purple: Customs seizes 32 vehicles worth RM8.45m in Kuala Lumpur warehouse raid

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — The Customs Department (JKDM) has seized 32 imported vehicles of various makes, valued at more than RM8.45 million, for violating licensed warehouse regulations.

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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — The Customs Department (JKDM) has seized 32 imported vehicles of various makes, valued at more than RM8.45 million, for violating licensed warehouse regulations.

Kuala Lumpur Customs director Wan Norizan Wan Daud said the confiscation followed a special enforcement exercise, ‘Ops Purple’, carried out from July 29 to Aug 7 at two licensed warehouses in Setapak and Sungai Penchala, Damansara.

“Inspections revealed that the warehouse operators failed to comply with licensing conditions under Section 65(2) and Section 65(5) of the Customs Act 1967. A total of 32 imported vehicles were stored beyond the permitted 48-month period,” she said in a statement today.

She added that the seized vehicles were worth RM3.08 million, while unpaid import duty and taxes amounted to RM5.38 million.

Investigations showed that the operators had abused duty exemption facilities provided under Section 4 of the Customs Act 1967. The case is now being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Act for storing or possessing uncustomed or prohibited goods.

Wan Norizan stressed that JKDM Kuala Lumpur would continue to tighten enforcement to ensure licensed warehouses adhere to regulations.

Between January and August 2025, JKDM Kuala Lumpur recorded 353 seizure cases involving goods worth RM72.12 million, with estimated duties and taxes amounting to RM31.61 million.

The biggest seizures involved alcoholic beverages worth RM11.48 million in 77 cases, followed by 10 cases of imported steel without permits worth RM8.88 million, and 25 cases of cannabis flower worth RM8.67 million.

Customs also recorded 159 cases involving white and kretek cigarettes valued at RM6.71 million, one case involving a drone without an import permit worth RM1.56 million, and 81 other cases involving various goods valued at RM53.3 million.

She also urged the public to refrain from smuggling activities, warning that they not only cause revenue losses but also endanger public safety.

“The public is encouraged to report smuggling activities by contacting the Customs Toll-Free Line at 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs office. The identity of informants will be kept confidential,” she said. — Bernama

The Customs Department seized 32 imported vehicles worth over RM8.45 million from warehouses in Setapak and Sungai Penchala for breaching licensing conditions. — Picture via Facebook/Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia

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