The Sarawak Royal Malaysian Customs (JKDM) seized smuggled cigarettes and beer estimated to be worth RM870,840 with duty estimated at RM8,212,106.

Sarawak JKDM director Ahmad Jii, said the cigarettes seized were estimated to be worth RM663,600 with duty estimated at RM7,683,603.20, while the beer of various brands were worth RM207,240 with duty estimated at RM528,503.

"All the goods seized are impounded under Section 114, of the Customs Act 1967 as they are suspected to be imported without a valid import licence," he told a media conference, here today.

Ahmad said that acting on information received on Dec 13, the Sarawak Customs Collaborated Border Management (CBM) team carried out a check on three containers at the Customs Examination Area (CEA) at the Senari Port, Kuching and a tailboard check on the containers revealed that one of the containers contained cigarettes while the other two contained beers imported illegally.

He said that initial investigation found that the containers had arrived from Singapore and were imported by a non-existent company and the goods were claimed to be imitated jewellery, clothings, bags, pencils and shoes. -- Bernama