Couple nabbed for possessing elephant tusks
TAWAU: Sabah Forestry Department (Protect) enforcement team arrested a couple for possessing four elephant tusks at an oil palm plantation near Luasong, about 70km from here on Sunday.
Forest Conservation chief, Datuk Mashor Hj Jaini, said the couple were detained at 1.30pm a er a raid was conducted on a plantation worker’s house, where the tusks were found hidden in a closet of the couple’s room.
He said the 48-year-old man, a passport holder, and his wife, 50, admi ed to have bought the ivories for between RM1,500 and RM2,000 each from someone last year.
“The suspects also revealed that the tusks weighing between 2kg and 2.5kg would be brought to Indonesia for sale at a much higher price,” he said.
The couple were taken to Tawau police station for further investigation, he said, adding that the department was looking for two other suspects believed to be the sellers of the elephant tusks.
Meanwhile, Mashor said during a search at a nearby location, the department’s enforcement team also seized 21 protected magpie birds kept by plantation workers without permits, as well as several spears and four homemade guns.
“The birds were rescued and released while the weapons were handed over to the police for further action. The workers are advised to apply for permits if they want to rear birds,” he said.
Mashor said the seizure of the elephant tusks was proof of the department’s commitment to combat elephant killers.
He said that the department would work with the Wildlife Department and other agencies to track down criminals that threaten the state’s treasury.