PUTRAJAYA, Feb 16: An attempt to smuggle out a total of RM170,000 in cash by a Chinese national passenger was successfully intercepted by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal One.
According to the Enforcement Operations Director of the Customs Department Central Zone, Wong Pun Sian, they found 1,700 RM100 notes in the backpack of the passenger.
“The cash was discovered during a scan of the passenger’s backpack who was about to depart for Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.
“The passenger failed to declare the cash in the Customs Form No. 7 and also failed to submit a Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) permit,” he said in a statement.
The individual, whose gender was not disclosed, was detained to assist the investigation under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 and Section 28B of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
If found guilty, the said person is punishable with a fine of up to RM3 million or imprisonment of up to five years or both, upon conviction.
Wong also stated that this is the first money smuggling case involving the Ringgit Malaysia in 2025 by an international passenger at the KLIA Terminal One Departures Hall. – TVS
