IPOH – The Royal Malaysian Navy thwarted an attempt to smuggle out hundreds of wild birds using a fibreglass boat in southeastern Johor waters last night.
The navy said a local man was detained for conducting smuggling activities via sea routes in the 10.45pm incident.
“The attempt was uncovered when navy vessel KD Handalan that was on an Ops Benteng Laut patrol detected the presence of a suspicious fibre boat without any lights on near the Tg Pengelih passenger jetty.
“Two navy rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB), Julong Julong and Santi, were assigned to intercept the fibre boat at about 1.2 nautical miles off southeast of Tg Pengelih,” the navy said in a statement today.
Both RHIBs intercepted the fibreglass boat and checks onboard found about 120 white-rumped shama birds, 540 Oriental-magpie robins and 14 fighting cocks suspected of being smuggled out.
“The boat and the smuggler were brought to the Tg Pengelih passenger jetty and handed over to police for investigations while the seized animals were handed over to the Pahang Wildlife and National Parks Department for further action,” the statement read. – Bernama, April 20, 2022
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