Malaysia: Baby orang utan among 9 animals rescued from smugglers

Bernama New Straits Times 7 Apr 19;

MUAR: Region Two marine policemen foiled an attempt to smuggle in nine protected animals, including a baby orang utan, worth RM403,000 in Parit Unas, Parit Jawa last night.

Region Two marine police commander Assistant Commissioner Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said the success was due to the department’s surveillance work at the Parit Unas fishermen’s Jetty.

He said the surveillance was carried out from 8pm after marine police received a public tip-off about the smuggling attempt.

“After waiting for almost an hour at the jetty, we saw a Perodua Alza approaching the jetty and the crew from a boat unloading several containers into it.

“Realising the presence of the authorities, the male driver of the Perodua Alza sped off in the car, but our men managed to stop the vehicle after a 1km chase,” he told reporters.

Khiu said the local man, 28, was detained and a check of the four boxes which were on the back seat and in the boot found two orang utan, including a baby, six gibbons and an albino fox.

He said at the same time a patrol boat managed to stop the boat which had unloaded the boxes and arrested three Indonesian men aged between 23 and 40, including the skipper.

Khiu said all the animals, which were believed to have been brought in from a neighbouring country, have been handed over to the Wildlife Department for further action.

He added that the animals were believed to be brought into the country to be sold on the black market for shows and as pets.

“We believe the smuggling syndicate is using sea routes between Sungai Muar and Parit Unas to smuggle in the animals before landing at the jetty and they will later be taken to Selangor to be sent to the buyers.”

Khiu added the four men had been remanded to help in the investigations under Section 69(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and Section 5(2) and Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. - Bernama