ALOR STAR: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) foiled an attempt to smuggle hundreds of kilogrammes of foodstuff from Thailand into the country via Durian Burung last Wednesday.
This was when Maqis officers stopped a lorry at the Kota Putra Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex about 4pm.
Kedah Maqis director Hisham Abu Bakar said, upon inspection, his officers found 240kg of pork and chicken sausages, fish balls, fish cakes and other foodstuff and products.
The lorry driver, he said, did not have a permit to import or transport the foodstuff, estimated to be worth about RM3,000.
Hisham said the case was being investigated under Section 11(1) of the Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011, which carries a punishment of imprisonment of up to six years or a maximum fine of RM100,000 or both upon conviction.
"The seizure of the goods and items is to control the entry of pork-based products to prevent the spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF) epidemic and also to address the entry of agro-food commodities mixed with non-halal products.
"Action to enforce the law will continue to be expanded to ensure for the safety of the country's food biosecurity so that it remains free of contaminants, contagious diseases and so that there is compliance and adherence to rules and regulations that have been set," he said in a statement.