KLANG: Two container-loads of pork worth RM873,000 were seized by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) at Port Klang on Tuesday (Jan 25), the latest in a series of enforcement actions against illegal imports of animal products.
AKPS Port Klang commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said the seized meat failed to meet veterinary and quarantine requirements set by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis).
"Although the shipment's declaration and documentation were found to be in order, investigators discovered that the cutting facility used to process the meat was not approved by Maqis," he told a press conference at Port Klang West on Wednesday (Jan 28).
He said the seized containers originated from Belgium and formed part of a broader crackdown this month, with AKPS reporting total pork seizures reaching RM2mil.
On Jan 22, media reports highlighted that AKPS had intercepted attempts to import frozen pork without proper permits and compliance, with the estimated value exceeding RM1.15mil.
AKPS director-general Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the enforcement operations involved shipments from Spain and Belgium, with a total combined weight of 76,973kg.
He added that during inspections on Jan 20, AKPS examined two containers of frozen pork from Spain.
Investigations revealed that the shipments were brought in without a valid Maqis import permit, with an estimated seizure value of RM660,137 and a total weight of 49,972kg.
Earlier, on Jan 14, a container carrying similar shipments from Belgium was also seized, with an estimated value of RM495,740 and a total weight of 27,000kg.
