According to court documents, Mohd Khasri Ahmad Arifin, 24, arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint on Nov 11 in a van carrying fresh vegetables from Malaysia.

A routine check by checkpoint authorities uncovered 380 packets of frozen cockles, weighing 208kg, hidden among the vegetables.

This is not Mohd Khasri's first conviction for the offence.

In February 2005, he was fined $3,000 for importing 250kg of live sea snails and 160kg of frozen blood cockle meat from Malaysia without a permit.

Licensed importers who bring in high-risk items such as cockle meat, must obtain an import permit from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, and a health certificate from the exporting country.