SEPANG: Airport Customs authorities have foiled smuggling attempts involving pangolin scales and cigarettes worth a total of RM4,668,800 since November 16.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Customs director Abdul Wahabi Abdullah said a total of 13 boxes of pangolin scales worth RM4,361,863 and weighing 337kg bound for the same address in Hong Kong were discovered at the KLIA Mail and Courier Centre.
He said the goods were hidden in cardboard boxes in gunny sacks declared as children’s clothings and filter packs.
Customs officials made the find on November 16 and 17 after the consignments arrived from east Malaysia for international postage.
Abdul Wahabi said there was a possible link with a similiar pangolin scale smuggling syndicate, whose previous attempts were foiled by the department in Borneo four months ago.
“All of the shipments arrived from different addresses and we are tracking down those involved.
“We will have to work with the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to find the culprits behind the attempt. Rest assured we will get to the bottom of this,” he said.
In July, the Sabah Customs Department reported the seizure of 8,000kg of pangolin scales destined for China worth at least RM100 million at Sepanggar Port in Kota Kinabalu.
It was Malaysia’s largest pangolin scales seizure to date.
Authorities were initially baffled at the whopping amount and claimed most could have originated from neighbouring countries.
Exportation and importation of pangolin scales is strictly prohibited under Act 686 of the International Trade in Endangered Species 2008, unless with valid permits from Perhilitan.
Meanwhile, Abdul Wahabi said Customs personnel made two separate searches on two lorries and discovered undeclared cigarettes without proper documentation.
A total of 3.8 million sticks of cigarettes in 180 boxes worth RM304,000 were found on.
He said the cigarettes imported from Vietnam have outstanding undeclared Customs duties amounting to RM2,600,608.
On Friday, officials searched a five tonne lorry parked near the Aviation Post warehouse in KLIA, whose import company has been identified and were being sought.
“We were unable to make any arrests as the suspects probably got wind of our operation and abandoned the lorry at the warehouse,” he said.
On November 15, a 27-year-old suspect was detained and subsequently charged on Saturday after he was stopped near the KLIA Customs Cargo exit for a routine check.
A complete search on both lorries yielded undeclared shipments without Customs approval en route for the local market.
