KOTA KINABALU: July 19, 2026 – Authorities have seized 12 containers of frozen food valued at RM3.42 million in a joint operation at Sepanggar Port, with all of them believed to have been falsely declared to evade inspection.
The containers, detained on 16 July during Ops Ribat Sepanggar 1/2026, contained 348 tonnes of frozen food – mostly chicken – whose halal status is now being questioned by authorities.
Jamawi (third from right) listening to a brief briefing.
Checks found that all the reefer containers had been declared inconsistently with the K4 manifest, which listed the goods as “vegetable” or “other food stuff”, whereas the actual contents consisted of frozen chicken and frozen pork.
Of the 12 containers, 11 contained chicken, while one is believed to have contained pork. One container has yet to be fully inspected, and customs officials are currently seeking permission from the Marine Department and port authorities to remove and dispose of it.
Investigations revealed that the labels on the packaging boxes were misleading – the frozen chicken was suspected to have been imported from China but was labelled as originating from Thailand, with a halal logo also displayed on the boxes, raising doubts over the products’ true status.
Jamawi (tengah), Ruslan (kanan) dan Jumain (kiri) ketika mendengar taklimat ringkas.
Sabah Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said that if these containers had reached the open market, they could have undermined public confidence, particularly among Muslims, in the supply of halal food in Sabah.
“If they had slipped through, it could have disrupted public confidence, especially among Muslims, in the halal food supply available in the market,” he told reporters after inspecting the seizure site.
Jamawi (lima dari kanan) bersama semua yang terlibat sama dalam peninjauan.
He praised the efforts of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), and veterinary officers stationed at the port for successfully detecting and preventing the containers from reaching the market.
According to Jamawi, information received indicates that approximately 30 containers using a similar modus operandi have been seized since the start of this year.
“Investigations by the Veterinary Services Department found that the labels used on the product boxes were misleading in terms of company names and addresses,” he said.
He called on those involved in such activities to cease and to comply with legal import procedures.
“The Veterinary Services Department always provides space and opportunity for importers who bring in products that have been verified, monitored and have recognised halal certification,” he said.
Each container contained approximately 29 tonnes of products, with a value ranging from RM300,000 to RM350,000.
The case is being investigated under Section 128, Section 133(1) and Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, and has been handed over to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department for further action.
Jamawi said he would submit a report on the seizure to the State Cabinet and request the establishment of a special committee involving MAFFI, AKPS, JKDM, the Royal Malaysia Police and relevant enforcement agencies to strengthen integrated enforcement action.
“We will not back down in our efforts to combat the smuggling of chicken or any food items that are not properly declared and could affect the safety and confidence of consumers in the halal food supply in Sabah,” he said.
