RM13m ‘ARTWORK’
The horns, worth RM13m, were flown in from Mozambique
THE Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Customs Department has foiled an attempt to smuggle in 18 rhino horns worth RM13.67 million that were flown in from Mozambique.
It was the first time the department seized the animal parts.
KLIA Customs director Datuk Hamzah Sundang said the horns were found in a wooden box during an inspection at the air cargo warehouse of the free-trade zone at KLIA at 5.40pm on Friday.
“The box was seized after we received a tip-off that prohibited items had arrived at the cargo.
“We found 18 rhino horns weighing 51.4kg, worth more than RM13 million. The items were declared as obra de arte (artwork). The destination address was in Nilai.
“Preliminary investigations showed that all documentation, including the agents and address, were fake,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.
He said the box was flown in via Qatar Airways from Mozambique and had transited in Doha, Qatar, before arriving at KLIA.
He said importing rhino horns was banned under the Third Schedule of the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008, unless there was a permit.
“Import of rhino horns is also prohibited under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Regulations 2012, except with an import permit from the Wildlife and National Parks Department.”
He said no arrests had been made.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for smuggling prohibited goods. If convicted, offenders face a fine of 10 to 20 times the customs duty, or RM100,000, whichever is higher, with a maximum three years’ jail, or both.
On another case, Hamzah said Customs also thwarted an attempt to smuggle in 2.12kg of drugs worth RM95,400.
He said an Indian national was arrested on April 5 to facilitate investigations into the case.
“White powder was hidden in the bottom compartment of his bag. The substance tested positive as ketamine.
“The 65-year-old man, believed to be a businessman, was detained at klia2 after arriving from Chennai, India.
“Investigations showed that he was entering Malaysia for the ninth time.”
He said the case was being investigated under Section 39 of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carried the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.