{
  "id": 2343532,
  "title": "Police arrest 5, seize RM12.8mil in two smuggling operations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/police-arrest-5-seize-rm12-8mil-in-two-smuggling-operations",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T08:53:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1515973/police-arrest-5-seize-rm128mil-two-smuggling-operations"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 5, federal police launched Operation Taring Alpha 2 in Kuala Lumpur, arresting three individuals, including two Myanmar citizens and a local resident. The operation targeted suspected smuggling and import regulation breaches involving liquor, cigarettes, helmets, beauty products, and phone accessories. Authorities seized liquor, food and beverage products from China, totaling approximately RM5.1 million. The three-day raid resulted in the confiscation of 112 cans, 3,696 bottles, and 4,092 bottles of liquor worth around RM2.57 million, RM2.7 million, and RM56,000 respectively.\n\nOn the same day, Operation Taring Alpha 5 was conducted in Klang, leading to the arrest of two men and the seizure of goods valued at around RM7.7 million. The confiscated items included Chinese liquor worth RM2.1 million, 49,000 cigarettes, worth nearly RM300,000, and 1,800 helmets worth RM1.8 million. Additionally, 780 sets of phone accessories, beauty products, and potted bonsai trees were seized, valued at RM936,000, RM2.29 million, and RM260,000 respectively.\n\nBoth operations were believed to be part of a larger smuggling network, with goods allegedly stored and distributed from temporary premises. Police investigations revealed that the majority of the goods were smuggled through ports using deceptive documents, masking the true nature of the items. The smuggling activities appeared to have been ongoing for more than six months.\n\nMuhammad Abdul Halim, deputy director of Federal police Internal Security and Public Order (Operations), credited the success of the operations to effective cooperation between the police and various enforcement agencies through information and intelligence sharing. Since the beginning of the year, police forces nationwide have conducted 240 raids, resulting in 413 arrests and seizures worth a total of RM315 million.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested five people and seized contraband and other goods worth RM12.8 million in two operations targeting suspected smuggling in Kuala Lumpur and Klang.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}