PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) has confiscated 2kg of bird's nests at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2.
Valued at RM8,000, the bird's nests were detected by the Customs Department's scanner at 11.45pm last Thursday.
Selangor Maqis director Mohd Sobri Md Hashim said that the nests were placed in four packages and brought in by a local citizen arriving from Laos.
He said they were confiscated for lacking a valid import permit.
"The act of importing bird's nests without a valid permit from Maqis is an offence under Section 11 (1) of the Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011," he added.
The offence is punishable by a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment for up to six years, or both under Section 11(3) of the same act.
Mohd Sobri said Maqis was committed to ensuring that all imports, including plants, animals, carcasses, fish, agricultural products, soil, and microorganisms, were free from pests, diseases, and contaminants.
"In addition, they must also be free from contaminants and not harm the country's agricultural, livestock, and food sectors while complying with human, animal, plant, fish, and food health aspects," he said.