KOTA BARU: Four exotic birds worth approximately RM100,000, believed to have been smuggled from Thailand, were seized by the General Operations Force (GOF) near the illegal Kak Nah jetty in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat.
GOF South-East Brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the seizure was carried out under Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan at about 7pm on Tuesday (June 2) after a Strike Force team detected a man unloading several cages on the Malaysian side of Sungai Golok.
He said the suspect fled by boat towards the Thai riverbank when he realised GOF personnel were approaching.
"Inspection of the abandoned cages found two blue-and-gold macaws and two blue-fronted Amazon parrots, believed to have been brought in without valid permits.
"Also seized were two cages used to transport the birds, bringing the total value of the seizure to an estimated RM100,200,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (June 3).
SAC Ahmad Radzi said the case has been handed over to the Kelantan Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for further investigation and action under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
He said the exotic birds are believed to be intended for local buyers, adding that patrols and monitoring along the border will continue to be intensified to curb wildlife smuggling. – Bernama
