Hamdan Raja Abdullah, The Star 3 Mar 10;
MUAR: Some fishermen here have been found to be involved in smuggling pangolins from Indonesia after the marine police checked a fishing vessel in Parit Jawa.
Muar marine police commanding officer Asst Supt Abdul Lajis Tahir said the vessel was spotted during a stake-out in the area at 8pm on Tuesday.
He said the team found eight sacks with live pangolins in the vessel and two sacks in a car boot parked near the vessel.
“Our team had received information about fishermen bringing in pangolins from Sumatra about four days earlier.
“The team then staked out at the coastal area near the Parit Jawa river estuary and spotted two men unloading sacks with live pangolins from the vessel into a car,” he said at the marine jetty here yesterday.
ASP Abdul Lajis said the two men, believed to be local fishermen, ran away after seeing the team approaching, leaving their car, a Proton Iswara.
He said the team rescued at least 15 live pangolins and seized the fishing vessel and the car.
He said the total value of the vessel and the car was estimated at about RM50,000 while the value of animals, which could fetch about RM250 per kg, could be more than RM15,000.
The animals have been sent to the Wildlife and National Parks Department for further action.
“We will trace the owner of the vessel and the car to identify the smugglers,” he added.
