11 poachers arrested, RM4.9 million worth of wildlife products confiscated
Among the items confiscated by cops
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) secretary Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said the police confiscated items worth RM4.9 million.
"We arrested a local man in Selangor and seized 69 wildlife products with overall items worth RM1.2 million," she said in a statement today.
Noorsiah said the Wildlife Crime Bureau (WCB) and Special Intelligence Investigation (PSK) had recorded 23 cases with consfication value up to RM2.68 million through the raids held last year.
"Among the wildlife and protected animals that were rescued were white-rumped shama bird, blue monkey, leopard cat, hill myna bird, eagle, fox, iguana and junglefowl.
Noorsiah said last year a local man and a Vietnamese national was arrested in Kelantan.
"The syndicate's modus operandi is to smuggle wild animals by sea using fishing vessels.
"We managed to seize the fishing vessel which had 59 iron cages of foxes and one cage with kareo padi birds (burung ruak-ruak)," he said.
Noorsiah said the police is committed to combat wildlife trade syndicates and will continue strategic cooperation with enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations to safeguard the country's biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
"The operation also targets syndicates involving illegal miners, illegal loggers and others who destroy the flora and fauna," he said.
Noorsiah has urged the public to get involved and share information to curb illegal poaching.
