GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Wilflife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has foiled an attempt by traffickers to smuggle 94 live pangolins at a cargo complex in Batu Maung here.
State Perhilitan director Jamalun Nasir Ibrahim said the department, along with the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (Maqis) found the scaly anteaters declared as crabs.
"The importer shipped the animals from Sabah. They declared 49 boxes of crabs but we found 43 boxes of them containing the pangolins.
"We are still investigating where the animals, worth about RM106,000, are destined for," he told reporters at the Perhilitan office in Jalan Gudwara here Friday.
The smuggling attempt was foiled around 12.30pm Thursday.