SEPANG: A 49-year-old Indonesian man has been detained following a failed attempt to smuggle fully protected wildlife species at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.
The Border Control and Protection Agency, with the cooperation of Airport Aviation Security (AVSEC), thwarted the attempt at about 9.10pm on Monday (June 13).
The suspect, en route to Surabaya, Indonesia, had checked in a suspicious cardboard box into the aircraft's cargo hold.
A search revealed the box contained four birds, believed to be from the protected Sewah Tahu species, each concealed inside a section of PVC pipe, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday (June 24).
Investigations showed the suspect failed to produce any legal documentation or valid permits from the Wildlife and National Parks Department to export the animals.
All four birds are classified as fully protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
Following the discovery, the agency seized the box and the wildlife based on provisions under the Wildlife Conservation Act using Form PHL 01/2010. The estimated value of the seized animals is RM52,000.
A police report was lodged at the KLIA2 police station, and the suspect is currently being held at the Aeropolis police station while awaiting a remand application by the court.
