Crackdown at KLIA: Wildlife officers deployed to tackle smuggling surge

KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) has deployed 20 officers to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as part of intensified efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said its officers have been integrated into the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MBCA).
They now work alongside other enforcement bodies, including the police, Customs Department, General Operations Force (GOF), Anti-Smuggling Unit, Health Ministry enforcers, Road Transport Department (JPJ), Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis), and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"Through this cooperation, attempts to smuggle protected wildlife, especially to India, have been successfully thwarted at the main exit points of the country," he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.
"The rise in smuggling cases involving protected wildlife via KLIA to major Indian cities is linked to the growing demand from that country."
The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has described the smuggling of exotic wildlife through KLIA as a "national embarrassment".
In a statement issued in April, CAP expressed alarm over KLIA's continued role as a major transit point in the illegal wildlife trade.
In early March, two individuals boarded a flight to Chennai with a suitcase containing eight exotic animals, including Eastern Grey Gibbons, marbled polecats, a silvery lutung, and a Sumatran white-bearded palm civet, it had said in a statement. Three baby siamang gibbons were found dead.
Meanwhile, Kadir said that India offers a large market, making it a prime target for wildlife smuggling syndicates.
"In addition to being sold as pets, the black market there highly values rhino horns, pangolin scales, and tiger bones for traditional medicine purposes," he said.
Kadir added that Perhilitan has achieved numerous successes, including the arrest of individuals attempting to smuggle various wild animals such as siamangs, turtles, orangutans, gibbons, koel birds, monitor lizards, and others to India.
India has emerged as the main destination, accounting for nearly 73 per cent of wildlife smuggling cases.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Barnama

3 hours ago

• Barnama

Bitget Onboards On India's I4c's Sahyog Portal To Support Local Law Enforcement

NEW DELHI, June 23 (Bernama) -- Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has officially onboarded onto India's Sahyog portal, a key interface under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) framework. The portal facilitates direct and structured communication between law enforcement agencies and digital service providers. This development marks an important step in enhancing cooperation between virtual asset platforms and Indian authorities engaged in cybercrime investigations. The Sahyog portal serves as a centralized system that allows law enforcement to submit legal requests for data disclosure in accordance with Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act. These provisions enable Indian authorities to seek access to digital evidence, user data, and transaction records from service providers in connection with active investigations. Bitget's integration ensures that future requests can be managed through an established, secure, and legally compliant channel.

Daily Express

a day ago

• Daily Express

Local man held at KLIA for attempting to smuggle four gibbons

Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Pic by Vince_Adam Photography | Flickr PUTRAJAYA: A local man was detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 for attempting to smuggle four exotic animals, believed to be black-handed gibbons worth around RM30,000. The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) said in a statement today that the animals were found inside the 34-year-old suspect's luggage. He was a passenger on a Batik Air flight bound for Mumbai, India, scheduled to depart Friday night. 'The suspect was detained on the spot and taken to the Aeropolis police headquarters for further action,' the statement said. AKPS said the gibbons have been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for investigation and further action. The case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008. Advertisement The arrest was part of enhanced integrated checks launched this month in collaboration with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Perhilitan, targeting wildlife smuggling through high-risk aviation entry points. 'AKPS, AVSEC and Perhilitan will continue to tighten security controls at KLIA and will not compromise with any party involved in wildlife trafficking via air routes,' the statement added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Barnama

a day ago

• Barnama

Local Man Held At KLIA For Attempting To Smuggle Four Gibbons

PUTRAJAYA, June 22 (Bernama) -- A local man was detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 for attempting to smuggle four exotic animals, believed to be black-handed gibbons worth around RM30,000. The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) said in a statement today that the animals were found inside the 34-year-old suspect's luggage. He was a passenger on a Batik Air flight bound for Mumbai, India, scheduled to depart Friday night. 'The suspect was detained on the spot and taken to the Aeropolis police headquarters for further action,' the statement said. AKPS said the gibbons have been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for investigation and further action. The case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008. The arrest was part of enhanced integrated checks launched this month in collaboration with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Perhilitan, targeting wildlife smuggling through high-risk aviation entry points. 'AKPS, AVSEC and Perhilitan will continue to tighten security controls at KLIA and will not compromise with any party involved in wildlife trafficking via air routes,' the statement added. -- BERNAMA