Malaysia: Syndicates use Johor's coastline to smuggle exotic animals

The Star 6 Jul 12;

JOHOR BARU: Syndicates are now using Johor's lengthy coastline as entry points to bring in exotic animals from Indonesia, for supply to other countries including China.

According to a source involved in the illegal trade investigations, Johor's close proximity to Indonesia makes it a main gateway for the smuggling of the animals.

"Johor is now the main transit for syndicates smuggling exotic animals from Indonesia," the source told Bernama.

The source said, anteaters were among the highly sought after animals, commanding RM300 per kilogramme for its meat.

Due to the high demand, the syndicates were currently doubling their efforts to smuggle them in from Indonesia, said the source.

Local syndicates with links in Indonesia used several secluded beaches in Muar and Batu Pahat, Johor to land their exotic cargo, said the source.

"As soon as the boats come ashore, the local syndicates would unload the animals into their luxury cars for the next leg of their journey to the northern boarder," the source said.

They have become smarter and no longer use lorries to minimise the risk of their entire precious cargo from being confiscated, but transport them in luxury cars instead to fool the enforcement authorities, said the source.

"Although lorry transport is cheaper, the risk of detection and its entire load being seized is also higher compared to using a few cars.

"If the authorities detain one car, they hope for the other five or six vehicles to escape and continue north to the border," said the source.

The source explained that other syndicates take over at the border and continue overland to China.

Questioned as to why the authorities found it difficult to eradicate the syndicates, the source said the groups spied on the local enforcement agencies' every move.

"They (syndicates) also place informants at the beaches to warn the boats about the presence of enforcement personnel and seem to be always one step ahead from being detected," said the source. - Bernama