Rats! Man’s bid to smuggle rodent meat foiled

GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) found and confiscated 780g of dried rat meat at the Penang International Airport on Sunday (Feb 9).

A 30-year-old man from Myanmar with the meat tried to bypass Customs at the airport but failed.

Penang Maqis director Zarina Ramli said the man did not have any import permit and health certificate with him and therefore, could not prove that the dried rat meat was free of viruses and diseases.

The dried rat meat was then confiscated.

Zarina added that Maqis had also confiscated 59.8kg of Thai Harumanis mango worth RM2,565 on Sunday (Feb 9) as there was no export permit issued by the exporting country.

In a statement, Zarina said both the cases are offences under Section 11(1) of the Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011, Section 11 (1) of the Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728), and is punishable under Section 11 (3) of the same Act.

If convicted, the offenders could be liable to a fine of not more than RM100,000 or be jailed for up to six years or both.