BATU PAHAT: An attempt by two men to smuggle about 1,300 exotic birds worth RM100,000 has been foiled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here.
Batu Pahat Maritime Zone director Maritime Comm Mohammad Zaini Zainal said the duo, aged 26 and 37, were arrested at about 1am on Friday (May 30) after MMEA patrol officers intercepted their fibre boat in the waters off Tanjung Labuh.
"Further inspection of the boat led to the discovery of 114 baskets filled with Murai Batu and Murai Kampung birds.
“However, the two local men failed to produce any permits for the wildlife and were arrested," he said in a statement here.
He added that initial investigations suggest the birds were intended to be smuggled into a neighbouring country, where there is high demand for the species as pets and for competitions.
“The syndicate is believed to have used small boats and travelled at night to avoid detection by the authorities," he said, adding that the case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
He also urged the public not to support such illegal activities and to report any suspicious activities to the MMEA via its emergency line at 999 or the Johor Maritime Operations Centre at 07-219 9404.
