Frog-Watch: Penang Customs Bust Counterfeit Liquor Syndicate
By Subaashinee Kupusamy,
11 OCTOBER: In a recent bust, Penang Customs officers dismantled a counterfeit liquor operation, led by the run by Nepalese nationals in a remote area of Kampung Valdor, Sungai Jawi. The raid State Customs Department, took place on September 9, uncovering 6,621 bottles of counterfeit liquor alongside empty bottles, caps, label stickers, a glass bottle capping machine, and fake Customs duty stamps. The total value of the seized goods amounted to RM73,654.35, with an additional RM334,133.37 in unpaid taxes.
What truly baffled authorities was the unusual security system employed by the syndicate. According to Datuk Roselan Ramli, Director of the Penang Customs Department, the operation was shielded by four frog ponds. These frogs acted as a natural alarm system, croaking loudly whenever someone approached, providing an early warning to the criminals. In this way, syndicate members could evade capture, though it remains unclear how many suspects escaped during the raid.
Operating for at least three months, the syndicate had been distributing fake liquor to unsuspecting sundry shops across the region. Authorities warn that these counterfeit products pose a serious risk to public health, as their alcohol content and ingredients are unknown. Consumers are advised to buy liquor only from licensed retailers to avoid dangerous counterfeit products.
The premises, unlicensed under Section 20(1) of the Excise Act 1976, are now under investigation. Customs officials are also pursuing the syndicate’s mastermind and the local owner of the property. The case is being investigated under Section 74(1)(f) of the Excise Act 1976 and Section 6 of the Law Reform (Eradication of Illicit Samsu) Act 165.
Further investigations are ongoing to track down the remaining syndicate members and shut down their operations as stated in NST.
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