JOHOR BARU: The General Operations Force (PGA) seized counterfeit liquor worth RM5.327mil including unpaid taxes during a raid in Jalan Seri Wangi, Masai, here.

       GOF SAC central brigade commander Muhammad Abdul Halim said in the Op Kontraban raid at about 4.45pm on Monday, a 20-year-old local man suspected of distributing and delivering the liquor was also arrested.

       “The premises was used as a site for illegal liquor processing and bottling to be distributed in the local market around Johor Baru.

       “The liquor mixture may not meet the standards set by the authorities and also the liquor brand manufacturers,” he told a press conference at the location yesterday, Bernama reported.

       He said during the raid, they also confiscated 62 blue barrels containing liquor essence and 56 boxes of bottles of various brands as well as fake Royal Malaysian Customs Department stickers, two cars, a forklift, a water pump and a mobile phone.

       The seized liquor was estimated to be worth RM3.747mil while unpaid taxes were valued at RM1.463mil, he said, adding that other confiscated items could be worth RM117,000.

       Muhammad said the syndicate was believed to have been active over the past six months after the government relaxed the implementation of the movement control order due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 75 of the Excise Act 1976 (offence of making, processing liquor and possessing liquor-making equipment).