KUALA LUMPUR: Customs director-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin has denied claims of her involvement in any syndicate activities, including the smuggling of pig carcasses.
She said allegations linking her name to a syndicate smuggling pig carcasses at the Kelantan border were defamatory.
"A report has been lodged at the Presint 7 police station in Putrajaya on the allegation made on Telegram, accusing me of protecting the syndicate.
"The post is slanderous, done by irresponsible individuals to tarnish the Customs Department's image and damage my reputation," she said.
Anis added that she has never been involved in any investigation nor met the prominent individuals mentioned in the Telegram post.
"I have never interfered in matters related to raids, investigations, enforcement activities or procedures related to the importation of pork.
"The report was lodged to protect the good name of the Customs Department and its director-general, and I request the cooperation of the police to investigate the slander made by that Telegram account."
Putrajaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Aidi Sham Mohamed confirmed that the report has been received.
"Further investigation is currently underway," he said.
Harian Metro previously published an exclusive report exposing the activities of a syndicate transferring pig carcasses using boats across Sungai Golok near Kelantan when authorities were switching shifts.
The tactic has become the modus operandi of a syndicate actively smuggling pig carcasses into the country via Tak Bai, Sungai Golok and Bukit Bunga in Thailand.
Previously, the Customs Department successfully seized pork estimated to be worth RM9 million, believed to be an attempt to smuggle it into the country from January to September.
Anis said the total seizures involved a tax value amounting to RM323,527 across 22 cases.