Sgor Customs seizes over six tonnes of pangolin scales worth RM78mil

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor Customs Department has seized 6,160kg of pangolin scales worth to RM78mil, their biggest bust this year.

The seizure was made after a team intercepted an attempt to smuggle the pangolin scales inside a 20-feet-long container in Port Klang on March 31.

“A check on the import manifesto found that the container was declared as containing cashew nuts.

“The modus operandi of this syndicate is to hide the pangolin scales underneath sacks filled with cashew nuts in order to fool Customs, ” it said in a statement on April 1.

Customs also said the importer and customs agent involved in the attempt to smuggle pangolin scales were being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967.

“We urge the public to help us fight trafficking — particularly cigarettes, alcoholic drinks, fireworks, drugs, as well as vehicles, and we also advise Malaysians not to be involved in those activities, ” it said.

The public can forward any information regarding trafficking activities by calling the Customs hotline at 1-800 88 8855 or the nearest Customs office in their respective states.

“We also guarantee that the identity of every information provider is kept confidential, ” it added.