SIBU: Customs officials seized a box of prohibited fish maw worth more than RM350,000 at Sibu Airport last Tuesday (Feb 23).
The incident happened around 11.40am at the MAS Cargo Inspection Centre here when Customs enforcement team along with an air cargo unit officer stopped a man for inspection over a suspicious box.
Customs Sarawak director Herman Shah Abdullah said the team found 12 packages of fish maw – a prohibited item, inside the box.
The items weighing around 6kg and valued at RM360,000, were seized and the man in his 40s, was arrested to facilitate investigations.
“The commodity is believed to be exported to an East Asian country due to its high value and demand in overseas markets for alternative medicinal purposes and specialty menus.
“It (fish maw) was declared as crackers in the delivery document with the intention of avoiding detection by the enforcement agency,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 where upon conviction, an individual can be fined not less than 10 times the amount of customs duty or RM100,000, whichever is greater and not more than 20 times the value of customs duty or RM500,000, or imprisonment not less than six months and not more than five years.
Herman urged the public to assist the department in the fight against smuggling activities. He pointed out that smuggling not only harms the country in terms of revenue lost, but also poses a threat to national security and the wellbeing of the people.
