Customs Putrajaya Handled Chicken Wing Disposal – Ahmad Zainudin

SIBU: The chicken wings buried near Bukit Aup were seized by Customs Department from Putrajaya at the Rajang Port here on Feb 23 this year.

Acting Sarawak Customs director Ahmad Zainudin Drahman said the item, which was disposed on March 30 and 31, was confiscated because it was imported without permit.

The chicken wings weighed 18,500kg with Customs value of RM543,706.30 and duty import of RM108,742.86, he said.

“Based on marking on the boxes, the country of origin of the item is from Netherlands. It is the first of such confiscation in Sibu. Investigation is ongoing to find the owner,” he said at a press conference at Sibu Customs station at Deshon Road here today.

He said Customs Department seized the item after they received public tip off and information gathered by their own intelligence team.

On why they dumped the item at land plot near Bukit Aup, Ahmad said that everything (from seizure to burial of the chicken wings) was all handled by Customs Department from Putrajaya.

“I cannot give the rationale for their (Customs Putrajaya) decision to dump it there. We (Sibu Customs) only provide the manpower,” he said.

On their standard operation procedure (SOP) for disposal of such item, he said that they usually dispose such item at refused disposal centre after consulted the Veterinary Department.

“That is what we are going to do now. But this disposal of the chicken wings near Bukit Aup is beyond our knowledge. It is arranged by Customs Putrajaya,” he said.

He had earlier said that they will dig out the buried chicken wings and transfer it to Kemuyang landfill here.

He said Sibu Customs will work with Veterinary Department to dispose the item properly by burying it.-BP