GELANG PATAH: Ornamental plants weighing about 11,036kg and valued at RM132,000 from China have been seized at Tanjung Pelepas Port near here.
The items were seized by the Johor Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) at 11.18am on Tuesday (May 9).
"Our investigation found the importer of the 17 species of the ornamental plants failed to produce valid import permits from us,'' Johor Maqis said in a statement.
It is an offence under Section 11(1) of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act to import any agricultural produce without an import permit, and is punishable under Section 11(1) of the same Act.
If convicted, the offender can be fined not more than RM100,000, or jailed not exceeding six years, or both.
The statement added Maqis is committed to ensuring that plants, animals, carcasses, fish, agricultural products, soils and microorganisms brought into Malaysia are free from the threat of pests, diseases and contaminants.
