ALOR SETAR, Jan 15– The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,000 kilogrammes (kg) of pig carcasses into the country, without valid import documents, at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, yesterday.
Bukit Kayu Hitam AKPS commander SAC Mohd Nasarudin M. Nasir said the inspection was carried out on a cargo vehicle at about 6.30 am, during a Special Physical Inspection Operation at the ICQS heavy cargo vehicle route.
He said the vehicle was directed to a weighbridge, where its gross weight was recorded at 4,200 kg, before further inspection found its net weight to be 2,200 kg. A subsequent thorough inspection led to the discovery of the illegal load – 2,000 kg of pig carcasses.
“The pork, estimated to be worth about RM66,000, was seized, as the importation of pork from Thailand is strictly prohibited due to the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF),” he said in a statement, today.
He said that the case is being investigated under Section 11(1) of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728).
Meanwhile, Mohd Nasarudin said on the same day, AKPS also denied entry to nine foreign nationals, who attempted to enter Malaysia through the Bukit Kayu Hitam entry point.
He said the group comprised one man and five Bangladeshi women, who were refused entry as they were not permitted to enter Malaysia via land routes.
In addition, a Taiwanese man and an Indian man were denied entry after they were suspected of not being genuine tourists, and believed to have intended to overstay by misusing social visit passes.
“Meanwhile, a woman from Hong Kong was refused entry, as her name was listed in the department’s suspect list,” he said.
He added that all refusals were carried out in accordance with the Immigration Act 1959/63, and the individuals involved were instructed to return via Thailand to their respective countries of origin.
