PORT KLANG: The Central Zone Customs Department seized 231 vehicles including an electric vehicle worth more than RM 27 million without import permits during two separate operations here recently.
Its assistant director-general Norlela Ismail said in the first operation on June 25, a team from the department detained 67 containers containing 200 vehicles worth about RM22.66 million including unpaid tax, in the North Port Free Zone.
"Preliminary investigation showed the 200 vehicles were believed to have been brought into the country without import permits.
"The vehicles seized during the operation were estimated to be worth RM20.6 million and estimated duties/taxes amounting to RM2.06 million," she told reporters here today.
Two days later after the first operation, Laila said the department detained 17 containers containing 31 vehicles from the same location.
Initial investigation, she said, showed the vehicles seized during the second operation were estimated to be worth RM4.79 million including unpaid tax or duties.
"All vehicles confiscated during the second operation were also believed to be brought into the country without import permits," she said.
She added that among the vehicles seized during the two operations were Mini Coopers, Toyota Alphard, and EVs, believed to be intended for the Malaysian market.
Both cases, she said, are being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 for importing prohibited goods.