He pointed out that betel nuts are a foodstuff that is consumed all year round but is grown seasonally. Shortfalls in supply are often made good by smuggling. Last year 25 tonnes of smuggled betel nuts were intercepted, creating a social problem.
他表示，檳榔是全年消費、但生產有季節性的食品，供需失調時只好靠走私進口來調節，去年即查獲廿五公噸走私檳榔，反造成社會問題。