MARINE COPS FOIL ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE IN 9 ANIMALS
Among the animals rescued are a baby orang utan, gibbons and albino fox
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, on Saturday.
Region Two marine police commander Assistant Commissioner Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said the success was due to the department’s surveillance at the Parit Unas fishermen’s jetty.
He said the surveillance was carried out at 8pm after marine police received a 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 containers into it.
“Realising the presence of the authorities, the car’s driver sped off, but our men stopped the vehicle after a 1km-long chase.”
Khiu said the 28-year-old local man was detained and a check of four boxes found two orang utan, including a baby, six gibbons and an albino fox.
He said a patrol boat stopped the boat and arrested three Indonesian men aged between 23 and 40, including the skipper.
Khiu said the animals, which were believed to have been brought in from a neighbouring country, had been handed over to the Wildlife Department.
He said the animals were to be sold in the black market.
“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.
“The animals are then taken to Selangor to be sent to buyers.”
Khiu said the four men have been remanded.