ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) has seized seafood products worth more than RM4,000 from a lorry en route to Singapore via the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex.
Johor Maqis director Edie Putra Md Yusof said departmental personnel inspected the vehicle at around 10am on Thursday (Nov 21) and discovered 112kg of seafood concealed among consignments with valid permits.
“We confiscated frozen prawn twisters and frozen fish fillets worth RM4,333 from the lorry as the items lacked a Maqis export permit.
“Further investigations revealed that the seafood products were being smuggled out without proper declaration and have been detained for further action,” he said on Sunday (Nov 24).
Edie Putra emphasised that exporting agricultural produce without a Maqis export permit constitutes an offence.
He explained that this is an offence under Section 11(2) of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728), punishable under Section 11(3) of the same Act.
He added that Maqis remains steadfast in enforcing regulations at Malaysia’s checkpoints to safeguard the nation’s agricultural integrity and ensure compliance with government rules and regulations.