Two men were detained by the Perlis Customs Department today for attempting to smuggle firecrackers and fireworks into the country.

State Customs Director Datuk Mohd. Pudzi Man said the two men, aged 23 and 27 and employees of a company based in Penang, were detained at the border entry point following a surveillance.

He said they attempted to smuggle the contraband into the country in a modified container, which was declared as empty.

However, their action raised suspicion of Custom officials, who then conducted a search on the container and found 81 boxes of fireworks and fire crackers, worth RM24,300 and tax of RM15,795 had not been paid, he added.

He believed the goods were to be delivered to Penang.