Composite image of the seized animals and cattle smuggling suspect. – courtesy GOF South-East Brigade via BERNAMA
KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) South-East Brigade thwarted two smuggling attempts involving cattle and exotic birds in raids conducted under Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan on Thursday (May 29) night.
Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said in the first raid, a team of GOF Battalion 8 members stopped a suspicious-seeming lorry at Kampung Wakaf Simen in Tanah Merah at 11.15pm.
"Upon inspection, we found 15 cows smuggled in from Thailand without any valid documents, with the value of the seized items, including the lorry, estimated at RM186,000.
"The driver, a 52-year-old man, was arrested.
"It is believed he was transporting the cows to local markets for Hari Raya Aidiladha," he said in a statement on Friday (May 30).
He said the suspect and seized items were handed over to the Kelantan Veterinary Services Department for investigation under Section 36(1) of the Animals Act 1953.
In another raid near the illegal Paija base in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, GOF personnel discovered several boxes and animal cages abandoned on the riverbank during a patrol close to midnight.
"The boxes contained three exotic parrots and a white peacock, estimated to be worth RM65,000, possibly smuggled in from a neighbouring country.
"The case is being investigated under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
"All the seized items have been handed over to the Kota Baru Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for further investigation," Nik Ros Azhan said. – Bernama
