Malaysian Customs Seize 6.51 Million Smuggled Cigarettes

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Nov.30.2023
Malaysian Customs Seize 6.51 Million Smuggled Cigarettes
Malaysia's Royal Customs Department seized 6.51 million smuggled cigarettes worth RM500,000 in the largest bust of the year.

According to a report from KOSMOONLINE in Malaysia, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department in the state of Negeri Sembilan has intercepted 6.51 million smuggled cigarette sticks in an attempt to evade taxes.

 

Good news has been announced by the Director of the Royal Customs Department in Negeri Sembilan State, Mohammad Hafiz Ishak. He stated that this seizure is the largest by the Malaysian Royal Customs Department this year, involving cigarettes worth over 500,000 ringgit (approximately 760,000 yuan or 5.2 million ringgit in evaded taxes).

 

Mohammad Hafiz Ishak, a spokesperson, has provided details regarding the recent apprehension of two trucks. The interception of these vehicles took place at different locations along the northern expressway between 1 pm and 4:30 pm on November 15th.

 

Customs officers from the Royal Customs Department stationed in the state of Selangor discovered a total of 298 boxes containing 14,900 cartons of cigarettes in the first truck, all of which were affixed with counterfeit tax labels. In the second truck, they found 353 boxes filled with 17,650 cartons of cigarettes, none of which had any tax labels attached.

 

He added that all these cigarettes are suspected to be in violation of Part 1 and Part 2 of the Third Schedule of the 2023 Customs (Import Prohibition) Regulations, which prohibits the illegal importation of goods. Following this, his department has seized all the cigarettes, two trucks, and the male driver, who is also a local resident, estimated to be around 30 years old.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

EU ‘TPD3’ Enters Next Phase on Aug. 14 as Fragmented Vape and Nicotine Pouch Rules Push the Single Market Toward Regulatory Overhaul
EU ‘TPD3’ Enters Next Phase on Aug. 14 as Fragmented Vape and Nicotine Pouch Rules Push the Single Market Toward Regulatory Overhaul
A 12-week European Commission consultation on revising the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive is due to close on Aug. 14, 2026. The Commission has identified e-cigarette flavours, disposable vapes, tobacco heating devices, nicotine pouches, nicotine-free e-cigarettes, packaging and digital marketing among areas for possible new EU rules. National regulations already vary significantly across the bloc, a fragmentation the Commission says creates internal-market barriers and distorts competition. No formal revised TPD/TAD legislative text has yet been published, with the Commission currently indicating December 2026 for the legislative initiative.
Aug.14
Product | JTI Philippines Expands Nordic Spirit Nicotine Pouch Portfolio With Dark Pop and Red Frost
Product | JTI Philippines Expands Nordic Spirit Nicotine Pouch Portfolio With Dark Pop and Red Frost
JTI Philippines has expanded the Nordic Spirit nicotine pouch portfolio in the Philippines with two new variants, Dark Pop and Red Frost. Both products maintain the brand’s tobacco-free nicotine pouch positioning, with Dark Pop featuring a fizzy cola profile with citrus and sweet notes, while Red Frost combines cool mint with sweet red berry flavors. The two variants are now available through Philippine online retail channels.
Aug.18
French Vape Market Under Pressure as Europe’s First Listed Vape Company Kumulus Vape Reports 7.8% H1 Revenue Decline, Retail Sales Rise 41.5%
French Vape Market Under Pressure as Europe’s First Listed Vape Company Kumulus Vape Reports 7.8% H1 Revenue Decline, Retail Sales Rise 41.5%
Kumulus Vape, Europe’s first publicly listed vape company, reported a 7.8% year-on-year decline in first-half 2026 revenue. Amid changing conditions in France’s vape market, the company said channel diversification helped offset pressure, with physical store sales increasing 41.5% year on year. Listed on Euronext Access Paris in 2019 and later transferred to Euronext Growth Paris, Kumulus Vape is viewed as a representative company of Europe’s vape sector. Its performance highlights the industry’s shift from rapid expansion toward more operationally focused growth.
Jul.27
South Korea’s New Vape Rules Raise Bar for E-Liquid Makers and China-Linked Supply Chains, Expert Says
South Korea’s New Vape Rules Raise Bar for E-Liquid Makers and China-Linked Supply Chains, Expert Says
South Korea’s new vape regulations are reshaping the e-liquid market, raising compliance requirements for manufacturers, retailers and overseas suppliers. In an interview with 2Firsts, Korean nicotine products specialist Sam Kim discusses licensing barriers, inventory impacts, China-linked supply chains, and emerging regulatory challenges around nicotine analogues, nicotine-free products and DIY mixing. The Korean case may offer broader insights as governments worldwide adapt to rapidly evolving nicotine products.
Jul.16
BAT New Categories Revenue Rises 18% in H1 2026 as Broad Portfolio Offers More Ways to Win—and Lose
BAT New Categories Revenue Rises 18% in H1 2026 as Broad Portfolio Offers More Ways to Win—and Lose
British American Tobacco’s New Category revenue rose 18% at constant rates in the first half of 2026. Nicotine-pouch brand Velo expanded rapidly, while Vuse recovered as U.S. enforcement against illicit e-vapor products strengthened. Heated-tobacco platform glo remained under pressure, and cigarettes continued to provide most of the group’s profit and cash. Compared with PMI and JT, BAT has more routes to growth—but also greater regulatory, investment and execution risks across its broader portfolio.
BAT
Jul.30
Philip Morris Italia Invests €1 Million to Upgrade Retail Network, Supporting 45,000 Tobacco Shops in Smoke-Free Shift
Philip Morris Italia Invests €1 Million to Upgrade Retail Network, Supporting 45,000 Tobacco Shops in Smoke-Free Shift
Philip Morris Italia has launched the Trade Academy program, investing €1 million to provide training and development support for approximately 45,000 tobacco retailers in Italy. The initiative aims to strengthen retailers’ capabilities in heated tobacco products, digital tools and consumer services. The move reflects how nicotine companies are increasingly investing in retail networks and frontline capabilities as new nicotine products become more important in the market.
Jul.28