BUKIT KAYU HITAM: The Malaysian Border Security Agency (Aksem) rescued 109 pangolins from ending up as exotic dishes after raiding a house at Kampung Kubang Airang, Titi Kerbau here today.
Kedah Aksem commander Abdul Latif Abdul Rahman said his men, acting on a public tip-off, raided the house and found a canopy covered by black canvas on the grounds.
He said upon inspection, the team found a stash of gunny sacks containing 109 pangolins, with a total weight of 65kg, and worth about RM196,000 on the black market.
"Following the seizure, we arrested a 49-year-old local man to facilitate the investigation.
"We are not ruling out the possibility that the pangolins were about to be smuggled to a neighbouring country due to a high demand for exotic food," he told reporters at Aksem Bukit Kayu Hitam headquarters.
Pangolins are a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) and the case has been handed over to the Wildlife and National Parks Department for further action