SEPANG: Pangolin scales worth RM3.86 million were seized at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here.
In its latest crackdown, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) seized 300.9kg of the scales that came from Congo.
Displaying the seized items at a press conference in the Customs Cargo Complex KLIA this morning, Customs assistant director-general (enforcement), Datuk Mohd Pudzi Man said: "We confiscated the smuggled items in our Free Trade Zone air cargo warehouse at 8.30pm on 30 July 2017."
The Pangolin scales were smuggled in seven bags and were labelled as "fish maw."
They were flown in via Ethiopian Airlines from Congo and KLIA is believed to be the final destination.
Mohd Pudzi said his team has yet to determine whether the smuggled Pangolin scales are for the domestic or overseas market.
The Pangolin scales, believed to be the traditional remedy for malaria and cancer, are in high demand in China and Vietnam.
The Pangolin scales can fetch a price of between RM1,000 to RM1,500 per kg in the Malaysian market.
The importing of Pangolin scales requires a special permit from the Malaysian Wildlife Department (Perhilitan).
Under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, those found guilty of illegally importing Pangolin scales into the country can be fined a maximum of 20 times the value of the smuggled items, a three-year imprisonment, or both.
"This is our fifth case involving smuggled Pangolin scales this year," said Mohd Pudzi.
"They (the smugglers) used a fake address in the free trade zone in the air cargo documents."
In a separate case, the Customs Department seized 75.74kg of ivory worth RM275,000 at KLIA. They were smuggled in via ETIHAD Airways from Lagos and transitted in Abu Dhabi before landing in KLIA.
Admitting that KLIA seems to be a favourite transit hub for international smuggling rings, Mohd Pudzi said his department will work with all stakeholders and tighten its standard operation procedure.
On the six KLIA Customs officers detained by the Bukit Aman CID over alleged links to the notorious drug ring Gang 360 Devan, Mohd Fudzi declined to comment, saying he will leave it to the police to investigate.
"The Customs Department will co-operate with the police. But we will not compromise with any of our officers who break the law," he said.