KOTA TINGGI: Marine police managed to thwart an attempt by two men to smuggle out exotic animals to a neighbouring country near Teluk Ramunia here.
Southern Region II marine police commander Asst Comm Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said two patrol units were on duty in the area near Sungai Rengit when they spotted a suspicious-looking boat heading to the open sea at around 6pm here the other day.
The boat then sped off in the direction of the beach after realising the marine police were in pursuit, and the boatman was seen fleeing on foot towards the forested area.
One of the officers contacted another team that was in the midst of conducting an operation in the forest, said ACP Khiu.
Upon inspecting the boat, the team found three baskets filled with 77 white-rumped Shama (burung murai batu) and another 15 baskets with 255 turtles.
“We detained two suspects, both males, a local and Indonesian national aged between 41 and 56 years at around 6.30pm in the forested area at Teluk Ramunia.
“The two suspects are believed to be involved in the smuggling of exotic animals,” he said in a statement yesterday of the case that is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, Immigration Act 1959, and Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
The animals have been handed over to the Forestry Department, with the seized items as well as the boat and engine estimated to be worth more than RM94,000, he said.
On a separate matter, ACP Khiu said the marine police also seized 3,850 cartons of illicit cigarettes worth more than RM45,000 from a house in Felda Sening near Bandar Penawar on the same day at around 10pm.
“We detained a 30-year-old male suspect who is the owner of the house for further investigations,” he said of the case that is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
