ALOR STAR: The Kedah Customs Department seized RM95,846 worth of firecrackers, with RM67,041 in tax, under Ops Raya that was held since June 2.
Its director Datuk Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir said the seizures were from nine operations made at several areas in the state including at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam, night markets, Ramadan bazaars and also at premises used as storage facilities.
He said the biggest seizure was made on June 27 at 9.45pm at a house in Taman Pelangi, Jalan Kuala Kedah here.
"Acting on a tip off, we raided the house believed to be a storage facility for untaxed goods. After waiting for two hours, our team broke into the house and found various types of firecrackers inside the house," he told a press conference yesterday.
He said the firecrackers, weighing about 5,474kg, was worth RM65,642 with tax amounting to RM36,759.52.
Latif said that also found at the house were 382.2kg of contraband cigarettes worth RM45,100, with tax amounting RM243,251.
He added that the department detained the house owner the following day to help facilitate their investigation.
He said that earlier, at 10.45pm on June 24, the department gave chase to a car at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Industrial Zone.
The car has tried to outrun the Customs Department patrol unit.
"The patrol unit gave chase until KM4.4 of the North-South Expressway where the driver abandoned his car and escaped on foot.
"We found various types of firecrackers on the passenger's seat and the car boot worth RM18,272, with tax amounting to RM21,273.04," he said.
Meanwhile, Latif said Ops Raya will be held until July 4 to curb the illegal sale of firecrackers in the state.