Three held for smuggling birds in express bus

JOHOR BARU: Two Indonesians and a local express bus driver were detained for trying to smuggle 247 live birds at 32.8km of North-South Highway, near the Kulai Rest and Recreation area yesterday.

Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department director Jamalun Nasir Ibrahim said it was the first time they stumbled upon such a case in an express bus.

He said the “White-rumped shama” birds, which included 30 female and three fledglings, were kept in several baskets in the luggage compartment of the express bus from Ipoh.

The White-rumped shama ( copsychus malabaricus) is a small passerine bird of the Muscicapidae family.

The Indonesians, who were in a car, were seen transferring the birds from the bus at the Kulai R&R at about 6.10am. When confronted, Jamalun said the three could not produce a valid permit from the department to commercially breed the birds.

The Indonesians, who had valid travel documents, were then detained with the bus driver.

A police report had been lodged as it is an offence to smuggle the birds under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which carries a fine up to RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.

Each bird could be sold for between RM300 and RM1,000. Investigations found that the birds were caught in a local forest. – by Low Sock Ken