No let-up in crackdown on wildlife crime

PETALING JAYA: Police operations against wildlife crime and contraband led to seizures of over RM130mil in 2022.

Police secretary Deputy Comm Datuk Norsiah Mohd Saaduddin said there were 306 arrests and seizures of around RM132,707,431 by the Internal Security and Public Order Department.

Of that total, around RM68mil was seized under the Customs Act whereas RM2.9mil was under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

The police also seized around RM8mil under the Explosives Act and more than RM40mil under the Control of Supplies Act.

A total of RM3.4mil was seized under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984 (for Covid-19 medicine) and the Poisons Act 1952.

This year alone, nine anti-wildlife crime raids were conducted between Jan 1 and 6, leading to seizures worth RM27.4mil.

“These operations led to the arrest of 23 suspects, including six foreigners,” she said yesterday.

She added that the police, together with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, the Health Ministry and the Inland Revenue Board, is committed to launching more joint operations to counter smuggling.