SEPANG: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) has seized 2kg of bird’s nests worth RM8,000 without a valid import permit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2.
Selangor Maqis director Mohd Sobri Md Hashim said the bird’s nests, packed into four parcels and carried by a local arriving from Laos, were detected by the Customs Department’s scanning machine at around 11.45pm on Thursday (July 18).
“The items were seized as (the person) did not have a valid import permit,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 24).
Importing bird’s nests without a valid permit from Maqis is an offence under Section 11(1) of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011, punishable under Section 11(3).
If found guilty, offenders can be fined up to RM100,000 or imprisoned for up to six years, or both.
Mohd Sobri said Maqis is committed to ensuring that all plants, animals, carcasses, fish, agricultural produce, soil and microorganisms entering Malaysia are free from pests, diseases and contaminants. – Bernama
