RM26.6 Million Contraband Beer Haul — Police Smash Major Smuggling Ring in Kuching

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One of Sarawak's biggest smuggling busts — police seize RM26.6 million worth of contraband beer and heavy equipment in a Kuching warehouse raid.

Bukit Aman's elite Wildlife Crime Bureau led 'Op Taring Alpha 2' on July 3, hitting a premises that was stockpiling tens of thousands of uncustomed beer cartons — mostly from local craft brand 1602.

Here's what they found:

• 39,196 cartons of 1602 Smooth Lager (330ml)
• 20,788 cartons of Pure Lager (330ml)
• 3,210 cartons of Pale Ale, plus hundreds more of Golden Lager & Lager Fresh
• Three shipping containers loaded with contraband
• Two Toyota forklifts

Three Indonesian men, all aged around 35, were arrested during the operation.

The 1602 brand hits back

In a press conference on July 5, 1602's executive director Dato Sri Vicent Lee Kee Lung insisted the company is "fully licensed" and tax-compliant, saying all permits — brewery licence, wholesale licence and liquor sales licence — are in order.

Lee claimed his company suspects the rapid growth of 1602 has hurt the illegal alcohol market, and that enforcement may have been influenced by outside parties. He said 1602 will submit evidence of suspected smuggling activities to police, Customs and MACC.

The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967. Nationwide, Bukit Aman's enforcement unit has conducted 199 raids between Jan 1 and July 4 this year, arresting 374 individuals and seizing goods worth RM258.5 million.

Location: Kuching
Details: Op Taring Alpha 2, July 3 raid

Sources: DayakDaily (Raid) · DayakDaily (1602 Response)

What do you think — is 1602 being unfairly targeted, or is there more to this story?