This might have been the first Range Rover SV in the country, but alas!
In a significant crackdown on illegal vehicle imports, the Customs Department Central Zone has seized a luxury Range Rover SV Auto worth nearly RM2 million that was brought into Malaysia without the required Approved Permit (AP). Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia, the official brand steward, is accepting custom orders for the Range Rover SV but wait time is said to be about a year long currently. That being said, there are rumours that orders of the top-spec Range Rover model are being processed currently.
According to Norlela Ismail, the assistant director-general of the Customs Department, the high-end SUV was seized around 4 pm on March 25 at the MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) facility. Upon inspection, it was found that the vehicle did not have a valid import permit as mandated under Item No. 3 (2) of the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.
“The vehicle is also a conditionally restricted import item unless it has a licence or permit stipulated under Item No. 3 (2) of the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023 under Part I of the Second Schedule,” Norlela revealed during a press conference.
The seized Range Rover SV Auto is estimated to be worth around RM1,097,300, with an estimated RM1,884,000 in unpaid duties and taxes. These vehicles are highly customisable, making the final sum difficult to estimate, but the sky is the limit with Land Rover Special Vehicles Operations (SVO).
“Based on initial investigation, it is believed that the vehicle is from Europe and it is an offence as it does not own the approved permit once landed in Malaysia,” Norlela explained. The Customs Department is now investigating the mastermind behind this case.
The seized vehicle has been taken to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) enforcement office for further investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which pertains to importing fully assembled motor vehicles without a permit.
If convicted, the offenders could face a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM100,000, and not more than 20 times the value of the goods or RM500,000. This latest seizure highlights the Customs Department’s ongoing efforts to curb the illegal import of high-end vehicles and protect the integrity of Malaysia’s automotive industry regulations.
