The Macau Customs Service said in a statement yesterday that it has recently busted a local eatery that had 73 kg of unquarantined food.
According to the statement, customs officers suspected a vehicle with a dual Macau-mainland registration plate had been transporting unquarantined food to a local eatery for resale for some time. The statement said the customs officers later put the eatery and the vehicle under surveillance and took action on Friday morning. The statement said that that the officers discovered that the vehicle was carrying unquarantined food from the mainland via the Barrier Gate checkpoint and transported it to the eatery in the northern district.
The statement said that the customs officers and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) officials joined forces and were able to seize 73 kg of unquarantined food, including chicken, fish and vegetables, from the restaurant. The statement said that the officers questioned a woman in charge of the eatery for further investigation.
The statement noted that the 65-year-old local woman admitted that she had used the vehicle to import unquarantined food for the eatery. The statement underlined that her action violated the External Trade Law and that she could face a fine up to 100,000 patacas. The statement pointed out that the food was confiscated. The statement added that the female suspect also breached the Food Safety Law, which could lead to five years behind bars and a fine of up to 60,000 patacas.
The statement pointed out that in order to prevent COVID-19 being transmitted to Macau via unquarantined food, the customs officers and IAM officials have been joining hands to clamp down on illegal food imports. The statement said that if residents spot any suspicious activities involving unquarantined food, they should call 2896 5001 or 2833 8181.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Customs Office yesterday shows a customs officer and a Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) official standing outside the eatery which sold unquarantined food.
