Cover image via Jabatan Penerangan Negeri Johor (Facebook)
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The Johor Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has seized 42 luxury vehicles of various makes as part of a targeted enforcement campaign dubbed "Ops Terma"
The operation, which commenced on 5 January, recovered high-end assets valued at approximately RM22,032,304, including both the market value of the cars and the associated unpaid taxes, according to Bernama.
Johor State Customs Director, Aminul Izmeer Mohd Sohaimi, confirmed the details during a press conference held at the Johor Customs Tower. He revealed that the department conducted extensive surveillance and inspections across the state to identify non-compliance within licensed warehouses.
As of 6 February, enforcement officers carried out 341 separate inspections, including physical land patrols and audits of various licensed storage facilities.
The tactical operation led to the arrest of four local men, aged between 40 and 50, who are believed to be the owners of the premises involved
The department has opened 21 investigation papers to further probe the legal breaches discovered during the raids.
According to the Malay Mail, the vehicles confiscated were premium models from manufacturers such as BMW and Lexus, alongside popular multi-purpose vehicles like the Toyota Vellfire and Honda N-Box.
The financial scale of the seizure is significant, with the vehicles themselves valued at RM7,663,970
However, the bulk of the total figure stems from the outstanding import duties, which amount to RM14,368,334.
According to Aminul Izmeer, the vehicles were imported from international markets — specifically Japan and several European nations — but failed to meet the stringent regulatory requirements governing their storage in Malaysia.
Operators of the licensed warehouses violated specific conditions outlined under Section 65 and Section 75 of the Customs Act 1967
Under Section 65, authorities found that the vehicles had been stored within the bonded facilities for more than 48 months without the necessary import taxes being settled.
The suspects allegedly breached Section 75 by moving or transferring goods under Customs control without obtaining prior official authorisation.
This crackdown mirrors similar enforcement actions taken by the department in recent years to curb the leakage of national revenue through the misuse of licensed warehouses
An operation in 2023 saw the seizure of dozens of unmanifested luxury cars in Port Klang, highlighting an ongoing trend of tax evasion within the high-end automotive sector.
The Johor Customs Department has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strict oversight of imported goods to ensure that all relevant duties are contributed to the public coffers.
