Bird’s nests gang busted with arrest of five

Cops: Syndicate targeted unsecured premises

KOTA TINGGI: Police have clipped the wings of a syndicate specialising in stealing farmed bird’s nests.

The ring was busted with the arrest of five male suspects, said Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Ahsmon Bajah.

He said the men, aged between 31 and 39, were part of the Geng Sarang Burung Apai Adela.

“This gang targets birdhouses which have no extra security features.

“They would then sell the nests in the black market around Johor,” Supt Ahsmon said here yesterday.

Supt Ahsmon said based on tip-offs, the suspects were arrested in a series of raids at three different locations within Bandar Penawar and Felda Gugusan Adela between 8pm and 10.40pm on Saturday.

He said that during the raids, police also confiscated a car, tools that were used for break-ins and a home-made shotgun hidden underneath a bed belonging to one of the men. The seized items were worth about RM20,000, he added.

“With the arrest of the suspects, we have successfully solved five break-in cases with a total value of RM25,000,” he said, adding that the two suspects have criminal records, including drug-related offences.

Supt Ahsmon said the men would be remanded until Friday.

Malaysia is the second biggest bird’s nests exporter in the world, where 1kg can fetch up to RM4,000 but the price could even be higher in the black market due to a high demand.

Malaysia exports about 300 tonnes of bird’s nests a year to markets that include China and the Middle East.

It was reported on Sept 30 last year that the Federation of Malaysia Bird’s Nest Merchants Association has voiced concern over frequent break-ins at birdhouses.

The association said thieves not only stole bird’s nests but also caused a lot of collateral damage such as destroying young chicks and eggs, causing millions of ringgit in losses to the industry.