Rice smuggling activities are still rampant in border areas despite regular enforcement operations mobilised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries’ Padi and Rice Regulatory division.

Foreign syndicates are known to smuggle rice, purchased cheaply in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, through illegal routes or lorong tikus at the border into Malaysia where it is sold at the standard price of about RM2.60 a kilogramme or at even higher prices.

According to rice industry coalition Padi Rescue chief coordinator Nurfitri Amir Muhammad, the tactic used by the smugglers has helped them to reap huge profits...