Cops Perhilitan Arrest Wildlife Trader Rescue 40 Turtles

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A joint exercise between the federal police and the Selangor Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia Department (Perhilitan) uncovered alleged illegal wildlife trading activity in Klang last week.
A team from the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation and Intelligence Unit (WCB) and Selangor Perhilitan raided a house in Taman Eng Ang in Klang on Feb 24.
“A local man was arrested and 40 protected turtles of various species that do not possess special permits were seized.
“Several units of microchips and communication devices were also seized.
“The total value of seizures is estimated at RM73,820,” said the police in a statement posted on its Internal Security and Public Order Department Facebook last week.
The suspect is believed to have conducted the selling of wildlife animals through social media, they added.
The case is being investigated under Section 60A of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).
“The police remain committed to the effort in busting wildlife crime and call upon the public to share information to stop this illegal activity,” the statement added.
Not first turtles to be illegally traded
A week before the raid, authorities seized 4,386 pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelys insculpta) from being flown out of the country at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Images showing a man suspected of wildlife traffickingFollowing a tip-off, Perhilitan officers and the airport Aviation Security team checked two passengers intending to board AirAsia flight AK512 from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi on Feb 18.
“The checks on the two passengers revealed that they were carrying seven luggage containing 4,386 pig-nosed turtles.
ADS“The turtles were placed inside multiple small plastic containers inside the luggage. Pig-nosed turtle species are categorised as exotic wildlife,” said Perhilitan in a statement on its official Instagram.
Perhilitan revealed that the seized pig-nosed turtles have an estimated value of RM1.754 million.
The department is investigating the case under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008.
Malaysiakini also reported that another man in Klang was arrested and fined for trading wildlife. He was first exposed by the international investigative outlet Bellingcat.
Where did the turtles come from?
Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia vice-president Chen Pelf Nyok said the scale of turtle trafficking out of KLIA raises many questions about the origins of the animals.
Among the turtles seized from the home of an alleged wildlife trader in Klang“How did the smugglers manage to acquire such a large number of turtles?
“Given that pig-nosed turtles are not native to Malaysia, it’s possible these turtles were either farmed on a large scale within the country or were previously smuggled in undetected.
“What remains concerning is the smuggling attempt itself - the passengers actually believed they could transport such a significant number of turtles without attracting attention!” she said in a post on LinkedIn.
As such, Chen urged investigators to establish the connection between the wildlife trafficking syndicate in Malaysia and illicit wildlife trade in the region.
“This alarming case underscores the ongoing challenges in combating illegal wildlife trade and the need for more stringent measures to protect vulnerable species from exploitation,” she added. - Mkini

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