KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained a company owner suspected of being involved in a syndicate linked to false declarations of imported goods submitted to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) at Port Klang.
A source said the suspect, a man in his 30s, was arrested at about 5pm yesterday during an operation known as Ops Celio, carried out by the MACC Special Operations Division in the Klang Valley, Bernama reported.
“Initial investigations found that the suspect is believed to have been committing the offence since 2020, acting as a ‘runner’ for individuals, companies and shipping agents handling the entry of imported goods into Port Klang.
“The suspect is also believed to be a member of the syndicate involved in smuggling contraband goods from various countries, using trade-based money laundering as the modus operandi,” the source said.
The suspect has been remanded until Sunday after Magistrate Ezrene Zakaria allowed an application by the MACC at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court this morning.
The source said Ops Celio was an integrated enforcement operation involving the MACC and the Malaysian Enforcement Agencies Special Task Force (MATF), which includes the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), JKDM and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
He said raids were carried out at 14 locations involving importing companies, individuals, shipping agents and middlemen suspected of making false declarations on the quantity and type of goods brought into Malaysia in order to avoid paying import duties.
According to the source, the syndicate’s activities are believed to have caused government losses of about RM1.5 billion in customs duty revenue over the past five years.
“The syndicate is also believed to have bribed enforcement authorities to shield its illegal activities, in addition to being involved in money laundering worth millions of ringgit.
“Through this operation, the MACC has also frozen 133 private and company bank accounts, totalling about RM160 million in funds,” he said.
Meanwhile, MACC Special Operations Division senior director Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin confirmed the arrest when contacted.
He said the case is being investigated under Sections 16 and 17 of the MACC Act 2009, as well as Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
He added that Ops Celio would continue today, targeting another 14 premises, including homes, companies and delivery agents in the Klang Valley, Penang and Kelantan. – April 22, 2026