Malaysia: Three held for smuggling pangolins

The Star 6 Jan 18;

SHAH ALAM: An enforcement team from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) detained three men for smuggling pangolins at a house in Bandar Pinggiran Subang.

In a statement, Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the trio were transferring 57 pangolins from their car to the house when Perhilitan personnel raided the place.

“The suspects did not have a permit to keep the wildlife,” Abdul Kadir said.

It was believed that the pangolins were poached from Johor, Melaka and Negri Sembilan, with Selangor as a transit point before being taken to neighbouring countries.

The men were taken to the Kampung Baru Subang police station. They will be investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.


57 pangolins confiscated, three suspected smugglers held
New Straits Times 6 Jan 18;

KUALA LUMPUR: Three men were held after 57 pangolins were recovered from a house in Bandar Pinggiran Subang in Shah Alam.

The house appears to be a transit point for the pangolins before it is smuggled out to a neighbouring country.

It was also revealed the pangolins may have been caught illegally in Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan.

Peninsular Malaysia Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the three men will be detained further for investigations.

“During the raid launched by Perhilitan, the suspects had just finished unloading the pangolins from a vehicle to the premise,” he said in a statement.

Upon checking, the suspects had no special permit to keep the wildlife from the department.

“The vehicle used was also modified with an air conditioning system that is connected to the rear boot to ensure the animals don’t die,” Kadir added.

The case will be investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 for smuggling and possession of a protected species.

“We hope the public would continue to be our eyes and ears for such activities that could lead to the extinction of our wildlife heritage.”