Over 300 exotic animals rescued from smugglers at KLIA
Authorities at Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) have successfully foiled another attempt to smuggle wildlife outside the country on Wednesday morning.
The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency said a joint operation by local enforcement agencies led to the arrest of two locals carrying more than 300 protected exotic animals in their luggage.
“Checks by authorities at 6.30am led to...
Summary
The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency at KLIA arrests two locals on May 21.
Checks on their luggage reveal more than 300 protected wildlife species.
The animals are valued at nearly half a million ringgit.
Authorities at Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) have successfully foiled another attempt to smuggle wildlife outside the country on Wednesday morning.
The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency said a joint operation by local enforcement agencies led to the arrest of two locals carrying more than 300 protected exotic animals in their luggage.
“Checks by authorities at 6.30am led to the discovery of wildlife animals such as the blue iguana, red-eared slider turtles, savannah monitor lizard, Nile monitor lizard, common spotted cuscus, black-throated monitor lizard and many more species,” said the agency in a statement today.
It estimated the value of the animals at RM460,000.
The agency said both men failed to produce the required permit to export the animals outside of the country.
“Both have been detained under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) and the Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686),” it said.
Back-to-back smuggling
The arrest came a day after the Indian Customs authorities stopped two Indian nationals who had arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport, in Bengaluru, India, via IndiGo flight 6E-1038 from KLIA at 10.59pm on May 20.
They were identified as Gopinath Manivelan and Sudhakar Govindasamy in a document Malaysiakini sighted.
Checks on Gopinath’s luggage revealed 1,672 red-eared sliders, while Sudhakar’s luggage contained 1,280 of the same species.
Customs authorities said the animals were still alive and were deported immediately.
Both were detained by authorities there for bringing wildlife animals into the country without a proper permit.
Individuals or syndicates caught in wildlife smuggling will face stern action under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716), which includes fines of up to RM1 million, imprisonment for up to 15 years, or both.
