<\/p>\n
<\/span> <\/span>The smuggling of goods into any country translates to billions in lost tax revenue for governments. <\/span>For <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span>
\ninstance, cigarette smuggling over the past years has caused the
\nMalaysian government RM1.2 billion annually, as statistics has
\nindicated that about 60% of the cigarettes consumed in Sabah and 40% in
\nSarawak are contrabands. <\/span>Combined, the amount is
\nquite staggering when other smuggled items are taken into consideration
\nsuch as vehicles, firecrackers, cell phones, drugs, firearms, timber
\nand so forth.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nSmuggling
\nactivities have been found to be more rampant in Sabah and Sarawak due
\nto the vast coastlines that are exposed, which makes enforcement
\ndifficult. <\/span>72 smuggling routes, also known as
\n\u201crat lanes\u201d or \u201clorong tikus\u201d have been identified in the wide and
\nunfenced borders of Sarawak. <\/span>A possible solution is to carry out air surveillance in addition to the land and sea patrols. <\/span>Plans
\nfor the use of helicopters and light planes in tightening the fight
\nagainst smuggling may be implemented by the Royal Malaysian Customs
\n(KDRM) under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).<\/span><\/font><\/div>\n
\nContinued
\nbilateral meetings and joint efforts between Sabah and Sarawak with
\nneighboring countries like Brunei, Indonesia and Philippines would go a
\nlong way to strengthen enforcement and minimize smuggling activities,
\nespecially drugs, between these countries. <\/span>It is
\nbelieved that drugs such as Syabu, Ecstacy (MDMA or methamphetamine)
\npills and Ganja (Cannabis) are smuggled through Sabah into Sarawak and
\non to Brunei from Peninsula Malaysia and Southern Philippines, while
\ntimber is allegedly smuggled into Sarawak from Kalimantan, Indonesia. <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n
\nOther
\ncountermeasures against smuggling would encompass imposing 24-hour
\nanti-smuggling watch nationwide, setting up ocean elite squads trained
\nin shooting, diving and unarmed combat, establishing more Customs and
\nImmigration posts, organizing more information sessions, mounting
\nanti-smuggling campaigns, and rewarding informers of smuggling
\nactivities. <\/span>The successful fight on smuggling will in effect increase the tax revenue of the nation. <\/span>KDRM collected nearly RM25 billion in taxes in 2005 as compared to about RM22 billion collected in 2004.
\nrsnews-03.06<\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<\/div>\n