AKPS Records Enforcement Action On 231 Containers, With Goods Worth RM36.2 Mln

PORT KLANG, April 14 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) has taken enforcement action on 231 containers from January to March this year, involving a total trade value of RM36.2 million.

Port Klang AKPS commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said all the containers were detected through inspections by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS), health compliance by the Ministry of Health (MOH), and tax-related offences handled by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM).

"Overall, the AKPS took enforcement actions from January to March, involving 231 containers with a total value of RM36,243,214.11.

"Based on the total value, February recorded the highest amount of RM18.9 million compared to January (RM8.8 million) and March (RM8.4 million)," he said at a press conference at the North Port JKDM office here today.

Elaborating further, he said the case involving MAQIS recorded the highest value at RM18.89 million, followed by MOH (RM11.24 million) and JKDM (RM5.95 million).

Meanwhile, Nik Ezanee said the increase in cases in February was believed to be due to several contributing factors, including the rise in import activities during the festive season.

"It's still too early to draw conclusions about the upward trend considering that AKPS is a relatively new agency and lacks comparative data from previous years," he said.

In other developments, Nik Ezanee said 15 electronic waste (e-waste) containers were sent out at 8 am today as a result of the cooperation involving the JKDM, Port Klang Authority (PKA), Department of Environment (DOE) and SIRIM.

“It is expected that by the end of this month, about 150 more containers will be sent out of the country, bringing the total to around 803 containers that have been dealt with involving e-waste and prohibited waste materials," he said.

In another development, Nik Ezanee said his team has dismantled a syndicate believed to have misused halal certificates and dubious health documents to smuggle 187.8 tonnes of frozen chicken and duck into the country.

He said the seizure involved seven containers that were inspected based on information from the public and intelligence on April 9.

"Initial checks found that the submitted documents were inconsistent, including the use of a company name that is suspected of not existing and discrepancies in the shipping information," he said.

He said that further inspections also found that the import documents did not match, including the invoice, packing list and delivery notice, while the accompanying halal certificate and health documents were also suspicious and suspected to be fake.

"The documents reviewed were mostly from fake companies with a trade value reaching RM1,062,000. Discrepancies were detected between invoices, packing lists, and delivery notices, including differences in document serial numbers.

"All the containers were detained and handed over to MAQIS for investigation and further action," he added.

In a separate case, he reported that his team also detained a container containing 25 tonnes of frozen pork from Australia worth RM204,000, which has been handed over to MAQIS for further action.

-- BERNAMA