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Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
End the ‘national embarrassment' of wildlife smuggling via KLIA
Most of us have heard about drug mules, where people willingly or unknowingly smuggle drugs across international borders for the illicit drug trade. But how many of us know that wildlife mules operating for criminal networks also exist to smuggle endangered species to overseas buyers? Around the world, Malaysia has gained infamy as a good source of illegal wildlife products, which raises the question: how serious are we in stopping the smuggling of wildlife via KLIA? More importantly, how effective is the government at stopping the removal of animals from their habitats? Hunting, poaching, trophy hunting and indiscriminate killing has placed many species on the endangered list. The tiger and rhino are hunted for specific body parts in the lucrative traditional medicine trade. Animals traded According to Kanitha Krishnasamy, the director for Traffic in Southeast Asia, the last quarter of 2024 saw around 10,000 live tortoises and turtles, endangered primates such as siamangs and agile gibbons, bats, iguanas and bearded dragons illicitly trafficked via flights departing Malaysia, and later seized at airports in India. Traffic, a wildlife watchdog, claimed that Malaysian authorities seized over 74,000 animals and 194 tonnes of wildlife parts from 2014 to 2023. The Consumers Association of Penang had also described the illegal smuggling as a 'national embarrassment', after two smugglers boarded a Malaysia Airlines flight to Chennai with wildlife concealed in a suitcase. They passed undetected through KLIA with their haul of eight exotic species, among them endangered eastern grey gibbons, marbled polecats, a silvery lutung and a Sumatran white-bearded palm civet. When they were caught on arrival in Chennai, three baby siamang gibbons had died mid-flight. Smugglers have no concern for the wellbeing and health of the animals. Babies forcibly removed from their mothers may die. Even adults can be traumatised by the ordeal of the flight. The animals are tied-up tightly, taped and concealed in their suitcases, without water and adequate ventilation. Many years ago, when Ismail Sabri Yaakob was the rural and regional development minister, he revealed that he was not aware of laws to protect turtles. If the minister was ignorant of the law, what about others lower down the chain of authority in Malaysia? Commitment of ministers Fortunately, today's ministers are more responsible. The current environment minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and transport minister Loke Siew Fook have both acknowledged the severity of the smuggling activities, and intensified efforts to curb wildlife smuggling via air travel. Now that Nik Nazmi has resigned, will his successor be as committed? The nation has strived to protect many species such as the Malayan tiger, Sumatran rhino, Borneo pygmy elephant, orangutan, hawksbill and green turtles. When large tracts of land are converted to plantations or other developments, and humans encroach on traditional hunting and breeding grounds of many animal species, the animals' chances of survival are limited. Can the incoming minister and his peers work towards an equitable solution to maintain or protect the habitat of these animals? How committed is the government to gazetting more areas for animals to roam freely, without being hunted or killed by humans? Tigers need a good forest home, with plentiful food, like wild boar and deer to live on. Destroying forests will destroy the vegetation which separates the tiger's prey. Is our punishment a sufficient enough deterrent to wild-life smugglers? Is the law strictly enforced? Case of the Lizard King In 2010, wild-life trafficker and Penangite Anson Wong, aka 'the Lizard King', was caught in KLIA attempting to smuggle 95 endangered boa constrictors to Indonesia. He served only 17 months of his jail term. Wong's case showed our lack of commitment to tackle this illegal trade. With the wildlife trade having an estimated value of several billion US dollars a year, it is inevitable that key people can easily be silenced or asked to look the other way. Wong's international network traded in albino pythons, radiated tortoises (the second most endangered species in Madagascar), snow leopards and other protected species. His fee increased, depending on the animal's rarity. Despite Wong's imprisonment in both the US and Mexico, as well as an embargo on his company, his wife Cheah Bing Shee continued to export wildlife to America, simply by trading under a new company name. Malaysia is a haven for illegal activities, in which animals are hunted to the point of extinction and the environment scarred till it is barren and polluted beyond repair. We cannot fail the animals who depend on us for their survival. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Japan Times
11-06-2025
- Japan Times
Snakes on a plane highlight Thailand-India wildlife trafficking, NGO reports
Venomous vipers found in checked bags on a flight from Thailand to India illustrate a "very troubling" trend in wildlife trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade, a nongovernmental organization warned Tuesday. Indian customs officials last week arrested an Indian national after finding dozens of snakes and several turtles in their luggage. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classed as "near-threatened" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The reptiles are among over 7,000 animals, dead and alive, that have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last 3 and a half years, said Traffic, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants. "The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling," said Traffic's Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which "shows that the clamor for exotic pets is driving the trade," she added. The group said its analysis showed that while most cases involve animals smuggled out of Thailand, over 80% of interceptions happened in India. More than a third of the wildlife seized is covered by rules banning or strictly regulating their trade across international borders, Traffic added. The group said the "scale and frequency" of the cases suggested more work was needed to investigate "the criminal networks supplying this seemingly endless conveyor belt of wildlife-stuffed bags." They also urged Thailand to work with regional neighbors that have seen similar trafficking routes to India. Thailand is considered a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, who often sell highly prized endangered creatures on the lucrative black market in China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Last month, Thai police arrested a man suspected of smuggling two baby orangutans into the kingdom for sale.
RTÉ News
10-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Indian smuggler stopped with possums, lizards, tarantulas
Indian customs officers have made the latest "significant" seizure of endangered wildlife from a passenger arriving from Thailand, a government statement said, carrying nearly 100 creatures including lizards, sunbirds and tree-climbing possums. Customs officers said the passenger, who was also carrying two tarantula spiders and tortoises, had "exhibited signs of nervousness" on arrival at India's financial capital Mumbai. The seizure comes after a passenger was stopped smuggling dozens of venomous vipers, also arriving from Thailand, earlier in June. Wildlife seized included iguanas, as well as a kinkajou or honey bear - a small raccoon-like animal from Mexico's rainforests - as well as six "sugar gliders", a gliding possum found in Australia. Photographs released by the customs unit showed the six sugar gliders huddled together in a basket, as well as a box crammed with lizards. "In a significant operation, customs officers... intercepted an Indian national... leading to the seizure of multiple live and deceased wildlife species, some of which are protected under wildlife protection laws", the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. Wildlife trade monitor TRAFFIC, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants, has warned of a "very troubling" trend in trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade. More than 7,000 animals, dead and alive, have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last three and a half years, it said. Customs officers at Mumbai airport are more used to seizing smuggled gold, cash or cannabis - but instances of wildlife seizure have seen a gradual rise recently. Customs officers seized dozens of snakes and several turtles from an Indian national flying from Thailand earlier in June. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classed as "near-threatened" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). TRAFFIC said its analysis showed that while most cases involve animals smuggled out of Thailand, more than 80% of interceptions happened in India. "The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling," said TRAFFIC's Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which "shows that the clamour for exotic pets is driving the trade", she added. In February, customs officials at Mumbai airport also stopped a smuggler with five Siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Those small creatures, listed as endangered by the IUCN, were "ingeniously concealed" in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag, customs officers said. In November, authorities found a passenger carrying a wriggling live cargo of 12 turtles.
Malay Mail
10-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Vipers, turtles found in luggage highlights growing Thailand-India wildlife trafficking trend, says NGO
BANGKOK, June 10 — Venomous vipers found in checked bags on a flight from Thailand to India illustrate a 'very troubling' trend in wildlife trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade, an NGO warned today. Indian customs officials last week arrested an Indian national after finding dozens of snakes and several turtles in their luggage. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classed as 'near-threatened' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The reptiles are among over 7,000 animals, dead and alive, that have been seized along the Thailand–India air route in the last 3.5 years, said Traffic, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants. 'The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling,' said Traffic's Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which 'shows that the clamour for exotic pets is driving the trade', she added. The group said its analysis showed that while most cases involve animals smuggled out of Thailand, over 80 per cent of interceptions happened in India. More than a third of the wildlife seized is covered by rules banning or strictly regulating their trade across international borders, Traffic added. The group said the 'scale and frequency' of the cases suggested more work was needed to investigate 'the criminal networks supplying this seemingly endless conveyor belt of wildlife-stuffed bags'. They also urged Thailand to work with regional neighbours that have seen similar trafficking routes to India. Thailand is considered a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, who often sell highly-prised endangered creatures on the lucrative black market in China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Last month, Thai police arrested a man suspected of smuggling two baby orangutans into the kingdom for sale. — AFP
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Smuggler stopped with lizards, tarantulas, possums, authorities say
Indian customs officers made the latest "significant" seizure of endangered wildlife from a passenger arriving from Thailand, a government statement said: nearly 100 creatures including lizards, sunbirds and tree-climbing possums. Customs officers said the passenger, who was also carrying two tarantula spiders and tortoises, had "exhibited signs of nervousness" on arrival at India's financial capital Mumbai. The seizure comes after a passenger was stopped smuggling dozens of venomous vipers, also arriving from Thailand, earlier in June. They included 44 Indonesian pit vipers and were "concealed in checked-in baggage," Mumbai Customs said in a statement. The wildlife in the latest seizure included iguanas, as well as a kinkajou or honey bear -- a small raccoon-like animal from Mexico's rainforests -- along with six "sugar gliders" — a gliding possum found in Australia. Photographs released by the customs unit showed the six sugar gliders huddled together in a basket, as well as a box crammed with lizards. "In a significant operation, customs officers ... intercepted an Indian national ... leading to the seizure of multiple live and deceased wildlife species, some of which are protected under wildlife protection laws," the Ministry of Finance said in a statement late Monday. Disturbing smuggling trend Wildlife trade monitor TRAFFIC, which battles the smuggling of wild animals and plants, on Tuesday warned of a "very troubling" trend in trafficking driven by the exotic pet trade. More than 7,000 animals, dead and alive, have been seized along the Thailand-India air route in the last 3-and-a-half years, it said. Customs officers at Mumbai airport are more used to seizing smuggled gold, cash or cannabis -- but instances of wildlife seizure have seen a gradual rise recently. Customs officers seized dozens of snakes and several turtles from an Indian national flying from Thailand earlier in June. Among them were several spider-tailed horned vipers, a venomous species only described by scientists in 2006 and classified as "near-threatened" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). TRAFFIC said its analysis showed that while most cases involve animals smuggled out of Thailand, more than 80 percent of interceptions happened in India. "The almost-weekly discoveries and diversity of wildlife en route to India is very troubling," said TRAFFIC's Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy. Many of those captured were alive, which "shows that the clamor for exotic pets is driving the trade," she added. In February, customs officials at Mumbai airport also stopped a smuggler with five Siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Those small creatures, listed as endangered by the IUCN, were "ingeniously concealed" in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag, customs officers said. In November, authorities found a passenger carrying a wriggling live cargo of 12 turtles. Australian reporter covering Los Angeles protests shot with rubber bullet by police officer Kristi Noem says "we are not going to let a repeat of 2020 happen" amid L.A. crackdown LAPD chief speaks out about deployment of military forces to anti-ICE protests
