ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (Maqis) have seized 149 tonnes of mandarin oranges worth more than half a million ringgit at the Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP) here.
Johor Maqis director Nur Afifah A. Rahman said the agency inspected six containers containing the oranges from China at about 4pm on Tuesday (Jan 26).
“The inspection revealed that the consignment does not have the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority’s (Fama) certification for grading, packaging and labelling.The six containers weigh about 149 tonnes and are valued about RM531,525, ” she said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 27).
Nur Afifah said any attempt to import any agricultural product without an import permit from Maqis is an offence under Section 11(1) of the Malaysia Quarantine and Inspection Services 2011 (Act 728).
She added that a person could be fined not more than RM100,000 or jailed for a period not exceeding six years, or both, if convicted under the Act.
A 30-year-old lorry driver was released after the department recorded his statement.
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