KOTA TINGGI: Up to 460 magpies worth RM50 each were rescued by officers from Region Two Marine Police in Pengerang in a 12.30am raid today.
Marine Police Region Two deputy commander Superintendent Shaari Arifin said in a statement that a local man in his 30s was transporting the birds in a lorry when officers stopped him and searched the vehicle.
Shaari said that upon checking, officers found 46 baskets containing the magpies which were going to be smuggled by sea into a neighbouring country.
"The man failed to produce any document for possession of the birds.
“He was arrested and a 15 horse power outboard engine, believed to be stolen property found inside the lorry, was seized.
"The total value of the birds, lorry and engine amounted to RM48,000," he added.
The case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).
In another incident, the Pengerang Marine Police scored another success when it detained 17 illegal Indonesian immigrants in two separate raids.
Shaari said seven men, aged between 30 and 50, were arrested in at raid at 12.20am, when their boat first reached the shore of the Teluk Rumania Jetty in Sungai Rengit here.
Another raid took place at 11.45pm on Wednesday, when 10 men, aged between 20 and 40, arrived at the same jetty.
All the foreigners did not have valid travel documents.
The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/1963 (amended 2002).