Smugglers Busted With Nearly 3,000 Gallons of Liquor in Fresh Vegetable Boxes

Customs authorities in Malaysia seized 2,560.91 gallons of liquor from smugglers hiding the booze in vegetable boxes with fresh veggies. (Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire URN:6302728)

The New Straits Times reported Monday that customs authorities confiscated 2,560.91 gallons of liquor smuggled in vegetable boxes with fresh veggies inside. The liquor stored in large refrigerated containers was seized on two separate occasions in Port Klang, Malaysia.

“On May 30, the department’s Central Zone Unit II enforcement division detained two 40-foot refrigerated containers at Northport and Westport, Port Klang,” Central Zone Deputy Director Norela Ismail said during a press conference. “An inspection of the containers revealed a quantity of alcoholic beverages hidden behind boxes of vegetables, believed to be without import permits.”

Authorities said they detained a 50-year-old woman to aid with the investigation into the smuggling operation. The New Straits Times reported the smugglers attempted to pass the illicit liquor as fresh vegetables and nothing more at customs.

Customs claimed that the value of the smuggled liquor during the first seizure was RM 32,000 ($6,800) without additional duties, and the value of the second seizure was RM 17,700 ($3,800) for a grand total of RM 49,700 (roughly $10,500).

In Malaysia, alcohol can only be imported to the country with a specific license. Those operating in violation of these rules face fines of a minimum of 10 times the duty amount of RM 100,000 ($21,200) and no more than 20 times the duty amount, or RM 500,000 ($106,100).

The New Straits Times reported that potential jail time is also on the table for the smugglers, and those responsible could face up to five years in prison.

In February 2022, 19 individuals were arrested after a drug smuggling ring was uncovered. The smugglers submerged illicit substances like cocaine in wine tankers and transported them throughout Piedmont, Italy, to Malaga, Spain. 800 kilograms of hashish and 3 kilograms of cocaine were discovered during the raid.

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