Malaysian border agency seizes RM66,000 worth of pig carcasses from Thailand, citing African Swine Fever threat, and denies entry to nine foreigners.
ALOR SETAR: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,000 kilogrammes of pig carcasses into the country. The seizure occurred at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex.
Bukit Kayu Hitam AKPS commander SAC Mohd Nasarudin M. Nasir said the cargo vehicle was inspected during a Special Physical Inspection Operation. The vehicle was directed to a weighbridge where its gross weight was recorded at 4,200 kg.
A subsequent thorough inspection found its net weight to be 2,200 kg. This led to the discovery of the illegal load of pork.
“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,” he said in a statement. The case is being investigated under the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011.
In a separate incident on the same day, AKPS also denied entry to nine foreign nationals. They had attempted to enter Malaysia through the Bukit Kayu Hitam entry point.
The group comprised one man and five Bangladeshi women who were refused entry as they were not permitted to enter via land routes. A Taiwanese man and an Indian man were denied entry after they were suspected of not being genuine tourists.
They were believed to have intended to overstay by misusing social visit passes. A woman from Hong Kong was refused entry as her name was listed in the department’s suspect list.
All refusals were carried out in accordance with the Immigration Act 1959/63. The individuals involved were instructed to return via Thailand to their respective countries of origin.
