JOHOR BARU: The Johor Customs Department has scored big with four operations in three days, seizing frozen beef and contraband items worth nearly RM300,000.

Its director Mhd Subre Ishak said they had also picked up four people to assist investigations into the smuggling activities.

Johor Customs Department director Mhd Subre Ishak (right) showing the frozen beef seized from a lorry at the causeway in Johor Baru.
He said a team from Tanjung Kupang preventive operation unit raided a house in Bandar Putra Kulai on Wednesday.

"There, we recovered 3,467 cartons of cigarettes of various brands worth over RM104,000.

"The undeclared cigarettes involve an unpaid duty of RM282,500,? he said, adding the unit detained a man to assist investigations but released him on Customs bail later.

Then on Thursday, Customs officers flagged down a lorry which was supposed to have been carrying empty baskets at the Causeway about 4am.

"After checking, we discovered boxes of frozen beef kept behind those empty baskets.

"We arrested the driver and two assistants on the spot for investigations," Mhd Subre said, added the detainees were aged between 25 and 40.

He said a permit from the Veterinary Services Department is required to import beef, and added that the imported beef, worth over RM121,600, would be destroyed.

In two operations on Friday, the department seized RM73,440 worth of contraband beer with an unpaid tax of nearly RM170,000.

Mhd Subre said the first batch of beer was seized from a lorry parked by the roadside near Plaza Angsana here.

The second batch was also seized from a trailer in Jalan Datin Halimah-Jalan Tampoi here at 3am.