Royal Malaysian Customs Department Museum, Customs museum in Malacca, Malaysia
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department Museum occupies a former warehouse building that displays objects, equipment, and documents related to customs control history. The collection spans different historical periods and shows the development of trade practices and border monitoring activities over time.
The building dates to the 1890s during British colonial rule and first served as a warehouse for imported goods like rice, sugar, and textiles. It was later converted into customs offices and has since documented the evolution of border control under different administrations.
The museum reflects how customs practices in Malacca have been shaped by different rulers across centuries, from local sultans to European colonizers. This presentation shows how port control and trade regulation were central to the city's economic and political development.
The museum is located next to the Flor De La Mar replica and is open to visitors daily with free admission. Allow time to explore the different exhibition areas, and note that some collection items cover specific topics like contraband goods and smuggling.
The collection includes seized items such as opium paraphernalia, illegal firearms, and protected wildlife products from different smuggling cases. These exhibits show the creative concealment methods smugglers used over the decades to move contraband through Malacca's port.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
