Black Thorn durians are seen at a durian orchard in Raub, Malaysia, Nov. 21, 2021. Photo by Xinhua via AFP
Malaysian authorities recently stopped an attempt to smuggle 3,000 Black Thorn durian saplings worth an estimated RM900,000 (US$200,000) from Thailand into the country.
The case was discovered on Sunday morning after the General Operations Force, a unit of the Royal Malaysia Police, stopped a truck for inspection during an operation in the town of Rantau Panjang, state news agency Bernama reported.
The town is located next to the Thai border in the Pasir Mas District of Malaysia’s Kelantan state.
Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid, commander of the force’s Southeast Brigade, stated that the durian saplings were believed to have been smuggled and carry risks of pests and diseases.
He noted that the 44-year-old man who drove the vehicle is suspected to have been a courier delivering the saplings to an orchard in the Perak state.
He added that the case is under investigation and that the suspect, along with the seized items, has been handed over to the town’s police.
Black Thorn is a rare variety of durian that only accounts for 1% of the country’s total durian production and can typically cost RM80 per kilogram, according to CNA.
The popular Musang King durian, in comparison, accounts for 36% of production and costs RM50 per kilogram.
Smuggling is a rampant issue along the Malaysia-Thailand border in Kelantan. Late last year, Kelantan’s deputy chief minister said the state authorities would propose building a 100-kilometer wall along the border to counter smuggling, illegal crossings and floods, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
