Marine cops arrest wildlife smuggler, rescue 1,880 birds

JOHOR BARU: Marine police have arrested a man and rescued 1,880 murai batu (white-rumped shama) and murai kampung (Oriental magpie-robin) from being smuggled to a neighbouring country.

Region II commander Asst Comm Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the suspect, in his 40s, was arrested during a raid near Tanjung Merak in Pengerang around 10.30pm on Friday (March 6) night.

“Based on information, a marine police team conducted surveillance at the location when they noticed the suspect arranging suspicious baskets.

“Checks inside the baskets found 100 murai batu and 1,780 murai kampung, which are valued at RM333,600, ” he said in a statement here on Saturday (March 7).

He added that investigations revealed that the birds were to be smuggled to a neighbouring country and the case was being investigated under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

ACP Abdul Rahman pointed out that based on marine police records, from January to March this year, a total of five suspects had been arrested under the Act.