TUARAN: A retired forest ranger has been arrested after a raid on his house uncovered a collection of wildlife parts worth over half a million ringgit.
The operation in Kampung Wokok Batangan at about 7.15am on Friday (May 15) was carried out by Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department's Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Intelligence Investigation (WCB/PSK) in cooperation with the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Zaki Ashar said a man in his 60s, a retired forest ranger, was arrested.
He said the seized items included 55 pairs of deer antlers, three rhinoceros horns, a python carcass, a hornbill skull, two elephant tusks and 330 pangolin scales.
"Also found were two pairs of wild boar tusks, six pairs of barking deer antlers and an elephant skull.
"The seized items are estimated to be worth RM550,100," he said in a statement, reported Sinar Harian
He said the suspect revealed that he obtained the animal parts by buying them from villagers in Sabah's interior, apart from collecting animal parts he came across.
SAC Mohd Zaki said the suspect started collecting protected animal parts when serving as a forest ranger in 1986.
"The suspect and seized items were taken to the Tuaran police headquarters before being handed over to the Sabah Wildlife Department for further action," he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) and Section 41(2) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
