TAWAU: An 86-year-old man was arrested after enforcement officers raided a house in Kampung Kalumpang along the Tawau-Semporna road and discovered various protected wildlife parts, both frozen and alive on Thursday.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said initial investigations found that the local suspect was believed to be involved in the illegal sale of protected wildlife to tourists in Semporna.
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“A freezer containing parts of protected wildlife was found during the operation.
“Among the items seized were deer meat, barking deer meat and porcupine meat.
“Enforcement officers also seized a live pangolin and a live monkey,” he said.
The raid was carried out by personnel from the Wildlife Crime Bureau, the Sabah Wildlife Department and the 22nd Battalion of the General Operations Force in Kunak following intelligence gathered from the field.
Mohd Soffian said the suspect was detained to assist investigations under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 for possessing wildlife and wildlife products without valid documents or permits.
“Those convicted of the offence could be fined between RM50,000 and RM250,000 and face imprisonment of between one and five years,” he said.
He stressed that the possession, trade and storage of protected wildlife without authorisation constituted a serious offence under the law.
Mohd Soffian also urged members of the public with information on illegal hunting or wildlife trafficking activities to report the matter to the authorities to support conservation and enforcement efforts.
In PENAMPANG, a 57-year-old local was detained after enforcement authorities discovered several wildlife species allegedly being kept without valid permits at a premises in Kampung Nambazan here.
The operation was carried out by the Sabah Marine Police Force (PPM) Region 4, the Sabah Wildlife Department and Penampang police following a public tip-off.
In a statement on Wednesday, authorities said the man failed to produce approval documents for the possession of the animals as required under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Among the wildlife seized were a sambar deer, a barking deer, a Bornean crested fireback, three silver pheasants, two porcupines, a Malayan porcupine and a reticulated python.
The wildlife seized was estimated to be worth RM47,500.
The case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Sabah Marine Police Region 4 said it would continue strengthening cooperation with relevant enforcement agencies to curb the illegal possession and trade of wildlife.
