JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) here has detained a container from China at the Pasir Gudang Port here for carrying decorative plants worth more than RM100,000 without a permit.

       Johor Maqis said in a statement that the department was conducting a routine inspection before noticing a container without a permit at about 4pm on Sunday (Aug 22).

       “The inspection found 59,600 units of decorative plants with an estimated worth of RM119,200 that had been brought here without a valid import permit," said Maqis.

       It added that the container contains various species of decorative plants such as cactus gymnocalycium, spathiphyllum wallisii, caladium, echeveria pinwheel, microsorum punctatum, asparagus racemosus, strobilanthes sinuate and adenium.

       Maqis said in a statement here on Monday (Aug 23) that the case is being investigated under Section 11(1) of the Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728) which can be punished under Section 11(3) of the same Act.

       The offence is punishable with a maximum fine of RM100,000 or jail term of not more than six years, or both upon conviction.