Contraband oranges in truck from S'pore seized, M'sian driver detained

JOHOR BARU: More than RM12,400 worth of contraband mandarin oranges were discovered in the back of a truck at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex on Sunday (Sept 13).

The truck, driven by a 47-year-old local man, was passing through the CIQ from Singapore into Johor when it was stopped and inspected by the Johor Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) at around 1pm.

Johor Maqis director Nur Afifah A. Rahman said enforcement officers found the truck loaded with 1,248kg of honey murcott mandarin oranges stashed in boxes.

“The fruits were brought in without an import permit issued by Maqis and phytosanitary certification from its country of origin to attest that the consignment met import requirements.

“The illegal consignment was brought in for the local market and for own consumption, ” she said in a statement issued on Monday (Sept 14).

The RM12,480 worth of goods were seized by Maqis for investigation under Section 11 (1) of the Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728), said Nur Afifah.

She said if convicted, the driver could be fined not more than RM100,000, or sentenced to a jail term not exceeding six years, or both if convicted.

“We will continue enforcing the law at entry and exit points to ensure that imports of agricultural goods are food safety compliant, ” she said.