PUTRAJAYA: The Customs Department exceeded its revenue target of RM56 billion by collecting RM65.57 billion last year.
Department director general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin said they exceeded the revenue target by RM9.57 billion or 17.08 per cent.
She said the total revenue collected in 2024 also showed an 18.85 per cent increase compared with the RM55.17 billion collected in 2023.
"This is highest national revenue collected post-pandemic and it is attributed to enhanced enforcement, tax compliance and efficient digitalisation initiatives," she said at the Customs Department headquarters here today.
She said the national revenue target set by the Finance Ministry for this year was RM67.25 billion.
"Last year, we successfully thwarted 7,225 attempts involving smuggling and evasion of duties and taxes, resulting in seizures worth RM1.64 billion.
"We recorded an 85.91 per cent increase in seizures last year compared with RM884.27 million in 2023."
Anis said illicit cigarettes topped the charts in seizures with 2,545 cases recorded involving 605,218,244 sticks seized worth RM492.64 million.
"This is followed by vehicles with 1,021 cases recorded last year involving 1,697 vehicle seizures worth RM311.22.
"Drug seizures placed third with 585 cases reported involving 4.3 tonnes of drugs seized worth RM152.62 million.
"We also seized 3.34 million litres of illicit alcoholic beverages in 1,045 cases last year, with an estimated value of RM129.7 million," she said, adding that 235,624kg of fireworks worth RM4.83 million were also seized.
Anis said last year's strategy shifted from an output-based approach (number of cases) to an outcome-based approach (value and duty/tax).
"The main focus is on high-impact cases such as those involving shipping containers on a larger scale.
"This approach aims to maximise the effectiveness of enforcement actions and ensures that the country's revenue is more comprehensively protected."
She added that the department was committed to increasing revenue collection in line with Malaysia Madani's aspirations to contribute to economic prosperity, national development and the wellbeing of the people.