GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) foiled an attempt to smuggle 10kg of smoked rats from Vietnam into the country yesterday.
State director Muhammad Ikram Abd Talib said the smoked rats, worth RM1,000, were brought in without a valid import permit during checks at the Penang International Airport (PIA) here.
He said the seizure was a result of cooperation from the Customs Department.
"The items were detected with the help of the Customs Department's scanning machine and subsequent checks by Maqis officers at the PIA.
"We found the items inside the luggage of a passenger arriving from Vietnam," he said.
The case is probed under Section 11(1) of the Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728).
Muhammad Ikram said the state Maqis always took serious steps with enforcement agencies at the border in issues involving food safety, disease control and the risk of pest entry that could threaten the country's agricultural sector.
"As we know, rats can cause infectious diseases directly and indirectly.
"Law enforcement actions will continue to be strengthened to ensure animal disease control and food safety are maintained," he added.