A complaint from an Italian tyre manufacturer has set off a major investigation into large-scale tyre smuggling and forged import documents in Malaysia. The case, now known as “Ops Grip,” has already led to raids across multiple states and the seizure of thousands of tyres suspected to be counterfeit or undeclared.

According to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, the probe began after a European tyre maker raised concerns over fake products and suspicious import patterns. He confirmed that Italy was among the countries affected but stopped short of naming other sources. The seized tyres are currently undergoing checks to verify their authenticity.

The operation was carried out by the Multi-Agency Task Force (MATF), which brought together the MACC, the Inland Revenue Board, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Customs Department. Teams swooped down on six warehouses and container sites in the Klang Valley, Penang, and Johor, where they uncovered 17,672 tyres. These are now being cross-checked with international brands to confirm their legitimacy.

Investigators said the focus has been on companies suspected of smuggling tyres and falsifying their declarations. While Azam did not confirm whether enforcement officers were involved in the operation, he made it clear that any agency staff found complicit would face action. As part of the crackdown, RM70 million in bank accounts tied to the syndicate have been frozen. Authorities believe the smuggling and document forgeries have cost the government around RM350 million in lost tax revenue over the past five years.

Reporters from the New Straits Times joined enforcement teams on several raids in Shah Alam. At one tyre shop along Jalan Kebun, officers found 12 shipping containers stacked four storeys high, each crammed with tyres. More containers and a makeshift warehouse hidden behind the shop stored hundreds of additional tyres, with some being sold for as little as RM85 apiece.

Other raids included offices of tyre importers, additional warehouses, and container facilities. Authorities are now working with global tyre companies to verify whether the seized goods were legally certified for import. Investigations are ongoing, and more raids are expected as the net widens.