Why did nobody successfully spread Moluku spices before the 18th century?

Considering the immense demand for the fine spices in every part of Eurasia, why did the Molukans, then the Dutch, successfully maintain a monopoly of cloves, nutmeg, and mace into the 18th century? Cloves especially, considering the Dutch never fully exterminated the clove groves in all of the Molukus.
 
The successive rulers of the islands were successful in maintaining a monopoly by monitoring who had control of seeds and plants?
 
The successive rulers of the islands were successful in maintaining a monopoly by monitoring who had control of seeds and plants?
The Dutch were unusually efficient, though, and they never managed to control cloves entirely. It seems very unlikely Ternate, Tidore, or the Banda "republic" could have done so with nutmeg and mace, never mind cloves. Also, considering the reputation of the Dutch, spiteful Molukans (if not the rulers themselves) could potentially have leaked the spices to foreigners (other Muslims, or more likely Chinese/Europeans).
 
There were also the Portuguese -- who the Muslims were not exactly fans of, given their propensity to force Catholicism on people. Maybe people just weren't able to get enough plants out for a viable population, so to speak?
 
For a successful industry you'd need large scale cultivation in a colony with similar climate which is going to require government support or approval. The question I guess, is cheaper spices worth starting a trade or shooting war with the Dutch? I suspect the biggest reason is that it was simply more cost effective to go through the Dutch rather than establish their own industry.
 
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