Audrey Dermawan New Straits Times 13 Jun 11;
GEORGE TOWN: Syndicates are trying to cash in on an increase in the price of pangolins in the black market by smuggling them into neighbouring countries.
Pangolins are currently priced at RM220 per kilogramme, up from RM200 just five months ago. State Wildlife Department officers, however, have been on the alert and early Saturday thwarted an attempt to smuggle 35 of the animals.
Following surveillance on the activities of one syndicate, officers moved in while several men were transferring the pangolins from the boot of one car to another in Butterworth about 4am.
The officers managed to arrest one of the men, but the others managed to flee.
State wildlife enforcement unit chief Khairul Nizam Yahaya said his officers managed to save the pangolins and also seized both the cars being used by the syndicate.
Khairul said initial investigations revealed that the syndicate had used a nearby temple as a transit point.
"They carry out the smuggling activities in the early hours of the morning to avoid detection by our officers but whatever their modus operandi was, we still managed to clip their wings."
Pangolin meat is believed to have medicinal value and is widely sought after in the black market.
