by Chong Chee Seong

MUAR: When the number of Customs cases in Batu Pahat was too few to be true, Customs director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid smelt a rat.

There were also tip-offs from the public, including Customs officers, generally unhappy with anti-smuggling efforts.

Abdul Rahman decided to send in the Customs' special investigations unit which kept some officers in the Batu Pahat Customs Marine unit under close surveillance for several months.

His hunch and their efforts bore fruit on Thursday when three Customs officers were nabbed for keeping 80 units of Nokia handphones worth RM80,000 with unpaid import duty of RM8,000.

Officers seized eight boxes with 50 units of Nokia Model N73 Black and 30 units of Nokia Model 5320d.
He said a team led by special investigations unit director Zainol Abidin Taib raided the workshop of the Batu Pahat Customs Marine unit and found the handphones in its store. He believed the handphones were smuggled in by boat and were seized before they could be sold in Singapore and other neighbouring countries.

Abdul Rahman said those detained, aged between 33 to 44, had served the department for more than l0 years.

He said they were remanded for five days to facilitate investigations.

Abdul Rahman said they would only be allowed to carry out their duties after investigations were completed.

He said at a press conference at the Customs Complex in Bakri that they could face disciplinary or court action.

Also present were deputy director-general Datuk Mardina Alwi and Johor Customs director Mohd Subre Ishak.

"I have directed a full-scale 'no cover up' investigation to be carried out in the same manner involving any member of the public."

He said this was the first time the special investigations unit was involved in weeding out illegal activities within the department.

"All state directors must act without fear or favour to clean up the department."

He has directed the Johor Customs department to review and make changes in the Batu Pahat Customs prevention unit to make it more effective.