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New Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Perhilitan to probe monitor lizard smuggling case
KUALA LUMPUR: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has yet to receive any reports on the smuggling of two monitor lizards by a passenger travelling from Malaysia to India. Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the department would maintain close coordination with the Indian authorities. "We will conduct a thorough investigation and coordinate with airport authorities, as well as collaborate with the police's Wildlife Crime Bureau. "We will contact the Indian authorities through Interpol National Central Bureau Kuala Lumpur to gather further information on the case," he told the New Straits Times today. Indian customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving at Tiruchirappalli International Airport from Kuala Lumpur with two monitor lizards hidden in his checked baggage. Photos released by authorities showed the two reptiles with their mouths and limbs tightly bound and wrapped in black cloth.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Passenger caught smuggling two monitor lizards at Indian Airport
KUALA LUMPUR: Indian airport authorities busted a passenger smuggling two exotic monitor lizards in his checked baggage upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur, highlighting India's lucrative illegal wildlife trade. Acting on intelligence, officers from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu, uncovered the reptiles during an inspection. "Officers of AIU Trichy airport on the basis of intelligence intercepted a passenger who arrived from Kuala Lumpur to Trichy ... and the examination of his checked in baggage resulted in the recovery of two monitor lizards," said a communication posted in the X platform of the Trichy Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate yesterday. Photos released by authorities showed the two reptiles with their mouths and limbs tightly bound before being wrapped in black cloth. Their legs were also secured with tape, highlighting the cruel methods used in wildlife smuggling. "Further investigations are ongoing," it added. NST has reached out to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for comment. Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim last month said it had deployed 20 officers to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as part of intensified efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade. The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has described the smuggling of exotic wildlife through KLIA as a "national embarrassment". In a statement issued in April, CAP expressed alarm over KLIA's continued role as a major transit point in the illegal wildlife trade. In early March, two individuals boarded a flight to Chennai with a suitcase containing eight exotic animals, including Eastern Grey Gibbons, marbled polecats, a silvery lutung, and a Sumatran white-bearded palm civet, it had said in a statement. Three baby siamang gibbons were found dead. Meanwhile, Kadir said that India offers a large market, making it a prime target for wildlife smuggling syndicates. "In addition to being sold as pets, the black market there highly values rhino horns, pangolin scales, and tiger bones for traditional medicine purposes," he said. India has emerged as the main destination, accounting for nearly 73 per cent of wildlife smuggling cases. Based on the information, the airports in Chennai and Mumbai are identified as the main hubs for this illegal trade.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Crackdown at KLIA: Wildlife officers deployed to tackle smuggling surge
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) has deployed 20 officers to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as part of intensified efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade. Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said its officers have been integrated into the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MBCA). They now work alongside other enforcement bodies, including the police, Customs Department, General Operations Force (GOF), Anti-Smuggling Unit, Health Ministry enforcers, Road Transport Department (JPJ), Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis), and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). "Through this cooperation, attempts to smuggle protected wildlife, especially to India, have been successfully thwarted at the main exit points of the country," he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro. "The rise in smuggling cases involving protected wildlife via KLIA to major Indian cities is linked to the growing demand from that country." The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has described the smuggling of exotic wildlife through KLIA as a "national embarrassment". In a statement issued in April, CAP expressed alarm over KLIA's continued role as a major transit point in the illegal wildlife trade. In early March, two individuals boarded a flight to Chennai with a suitcase containing eight exotic animals, including Eastern Grey Gibbons, marbled polecats, a silvery lutung, and a Sumatran white-bearded palm civet, it had said in a statement. Three baby siamang gibbons were found dead. Meanwhile, Kadir said that India offers a large market, making it a prime target for wildlife smuggling syndicates. "In addition to being sold as pets, the black market there highly values rhino horns, pangolin scales, and tiger bones for traditional medicine purposes," he said. Kadir added that Perhilitan has achieved numerous successes, including the arrest of individuals attempting to smuggle various wild animals such as siamangs, turtles, orangutans, gibbons, koel birds, monitor lizards, and others to India. India has emerged as the main destination, accounting for nearly 73 per cent of wildlife smuggling cases.
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- New Straits Times
RM5.4 million worth of protected wildlife rescued at KLIA between 2023 and 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Between January 2023 and March 2025, an estimated RM5.4 million worth of protected wildlife species were rescued from being smuggled out through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the animals targeted for trafficking and smuggling include turtles, snakes, birds and primates, comprising local and exotic species. "To date, Perhilitan has opened 10 investigation papers related to wildlife smuggling cases through KLIA during the same period. "Most of these wild animals were being smuggled to South Asia, Indonesia and Vietnam," he told 'Harian Metro'. Kadir added that baby siamangs, iguanas, various bird species, snakes, and turtles were among the most frequently smuggled animals, either in or out of the country. The authorities were able to foil attempts to smuggle 4,200 exotic animals through KLIA, marking a 42 per cent increase compared with 2023. India recorded 56 foreign wildlife seizures in 2022, nearly half of which arrived via Kuala Lumpur. "Typically, these animals are placed in plastic containers, wrapped in boxes or adhesive material, and checked in as luggage. "However, such tactics have been thwarted in the cargo zone, thanks to intelligence work and cooperation between Perhilitan and other enforcement agencies," he said. Kadir said that illegal wildlife trade and smuggling activities could have long-term impacts, particularly on endangered species in Malaysia. In June 2024, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) donated two Belgian Malinois K9 detection dogs to Perhilitan to help combat wildlife smuggling activities at KLIA. The dogs, named Van and Perry, were imported from the Netherlands and underwent intensive training with professional handlers to detect endangered species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, such as elephant ivory, rhinoceros horns, pangolin scales, snakes and turtles.
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Couple held for selling over 800 protected birds in house of worship
KUALA LUMPUR: A husband and wife were found illegally keeping and selling more than 800 protected wild birds within a place of worship. The couple were arrested after they were caught selling Scaly-breasted Munias (locally known as Ciak Tempua) for RM25 each. Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) Peninsular Malaysia director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the operation was uncovered through Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK), led by Perhilitan's Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU) with support from the General Operations Force of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). The raid, led by WCU officer Celescoriano Razond, was conducted at a stall located within the compound of a house of worship in Petaling Jaya at 8.50am yesterday. "A local man in his 40s and his wife in her 50s, who were at the location, were detained and questioned. "Checks uncovered 854 Scaly-breasted Munias, which are classified as protected wildlife species in Malaysia. "Also seized were 10 dead birds. All the birds were kept in 16 metal cages of various sizes," he said. Kadir said the birds, estimated to be worth RM30,000, were seized and sent to the Sungai Tengi Wildlife Conservation Centre in Selangor for further action. "The suspects were detained for investigation before being released on police bail of RM10,000 with one surety," he added.
