PORT KLANG: Customs officers have foiled an attempt to smuggle wildlife parts, including elephant tusks, rhinoceros horns, pangolin scales and tiger fangs worth RM80 million.
They were found hidden behind a pile of sawn timber in a container.
Customs director-general Zazuli Johan said the container was seized at West Port, Port Klang, on July 10.
He said this was the biggest seizure of wildlife parts to date.
He said previously they seized pangolin scales worth RM40 million and elephant tusks with a sales value of RM2.4 million in 2012.
“In this latest case, the container, believed to be from an African country, was supposed to dock at Pasir Gudang Port, Johor. It was supposed to be transferred to another ship, but we intercepted it at West Port after receiving information on smuggling activities.”
Physical checks on the container found elephant tusks, weighing about 6,000kg, 29kg of rhinoceros horns, 100kg of pangolin scales, 14kg of wildlife horns as well as 300kg of animal skulls and bones hidden behind stacked sawn timber, he added.
Zazuli said Malaysia was believed to be a transit country before the goods are sent elsewhere to be marketed.
He said imports of wildlife parts are banned except with permits issued by the wildlife and national parks department.
Zazuli said no arrests had been made so far, and investigations on the importer and shipping agents are ongoing. - FMT
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