Omani student helps seize truck loaded with infested palm trees

Muscat: After a tip off from an Omani school student, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries were able to get hold of a truck loaded with palm trees that were infested with palm weevils, in Saham.
According to authorities, the accused was attempting to transport several infested palm trees from agricultural villages without the permission of officials. The officials were able to seize the vehicle as a result of the Ministry’s efforts in cooperation with citizens.
According to a statement by the Ministry, “The Agricultural Development Department in Saham state, received a report from a school student and parents stating that a truckload of palm trees was heading towards a mountain village in Saham state.”
In January this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries announced a list of 21 quarantined agricultural areas around the Sultanate. The announcement was to prevent farmers from transferring palm trees and their saplings containing red palm weevils to healthy areas.
According to the announcement by the Ministry, “Any person who contravenes this decision shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and a fine not exceeding OMR2,000, or one of these two penalties, and the fine shall be doubled in case of a repeated
violation.”