Police bust wildlife hunting, trafficking syndicate in Perak, Kedah
Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said the raids were the result of integrated intelligence efforts, made possible through strategic intra-and inter-agency cooperation, involving the Manjung district police headquarters, the Perak and Kedah branches of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and local authorities.
In the first raid, conducted at 9.45am at a house in Lumut, Perak, authorities arrested four local men, aged between 31 and 61, and seized a range of wildlife specimens and weapons.
"Among the items confiscated were seven wild boar carcasses, 148 packages of water monitor lizard parts, 80 packages believed to contain wild boar meat, and a live monitor lizard.
"We also seized a Benelli Raffaello Elegant rifle, 30 bullets, 40 used bullet casings, and a bullet belt.
"The team also discovered four mobile phones, five freezer units, a necklace with two pendants, believed to be tiger claws, weighing 189.12g, a skull fragment suspected to be from a wild boar, and 23 vials believed to contain water monitor lizard bile," he said, in a statement, today.
Azmi said that the total value of the items seized in the Lumut raid was estimated at RM150,895.
The case is being investigated under Sections 60(1)(a), 60(1)(b), and 68(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716), which pertain to the offences of hunting, possession, or keeping parts of protected wildlife without a licence or special permit.
"The case is also being investigated under Section 39 of the Arms Act 1960 for illegal possession and use of a firearm.
In addition, the Manjung Municipal Council issued three compound notices under the Licensing of Trades, Businesses, and Industries By-Laws, for various offences, including keeping livestock without a valid licence, operating frozen meat storage facilities without approval, and conducting animal slaughter or evisceration activities without proper authorisation.
"A warning notice was also served under Section 70 of the Streets, Drainage and Building Act 1974 to the premises owner, for constructing a building without proper approval.
In a separate raid conducted at 12.45pm in Kupang, Kedah, authorities arrested a 30-year-old local man and seized 20 white-rumped sharma (Copsychus malabaricus), a protected species, with an estimated value of RM200,000.
Azmi said the arrest and seizure in Kedah have been handed over to the Kedah Forestry Department for further action.
The case is being investigated under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).
He said that, from Jan 1 to July 24 this year, the division conducted 178 raids nationwide, resulting in 311 arrests linked to various offences, including the smuggling of uncustomed goods, the sale of imitation weapons, e-waste, and wildlife trafficking.
The total value of items involved was estimated at RM546.26 million.
Azmi urged the public to come forward with any information which could help combat such crimes, stressing that community cooperation is vital to ensuring public safety and maintaining order.
– Bernama
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