KUALA LUMPUR: Police have seized 72 exotic birds following a joint operation with the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).
Federal Internal Security and Public Order Department director Comm Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali said a team from his department's Intelligence and Special Investigations Division launched a series of raids together with Perhilitan where they seized 72 white-rumped shama birds worth nearly RM700,000.
"On May 31, the raiding teams conducted three raids at Bukit Merah, Perak and arrested a 44-year-old man and seized the birds as well as 47 bird cages worth RM694,500.
"The next day, a raid was conducted at Gerik, Perak where two men aged 33 and 37 were detained," he said in a statement on Thursday (June 2).
He said they also seized four more birds, three shotguns, a pistol, five crossbows, two home-made shotguns, 25 shotgun rounds, and a bag containing 300g of ketum leaves.
"All the suspects have been remanded to help with further investigations.
"We believe these arrests only make up a small number of people actively involved in hunting protected animals," he said, urging those involved to cease their activities immediately.
Comm Hazani said the police would not compromise, and would hunt them down.
"The community is also advised to channel any information on such activities to the police," he said.
