KOTA BARU: Carcasses of a tiger, a panther and 10 pieces of ivory worth more than half a million were seized during Op Khazanah in Tanah Merah early today.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Shafien Mamat said the carcasses and the ivory were found inside an unnumbered house in Kampung Bukit Tok Cik Dong and was believed to be the work of an international poaching syndicate.
He said a 25-year-old man believed to be member of the syndicate was also arrested in the operation.
In the 3am operation, the police including members from the state Criminal Investigation Department raided a house near Kampung Ipoh.
"Upon checking the house, they found the carcasses of a tiger and a panther inside a freezer, with the ivory kept in the store.
"The man who is arrested is the syndicate member and storekeeper," he said at a Press conference at the state headquarters here today.
Also present was Kelantan wildlife deputy director Adnan Ismail.
Shafien said investigation showed that the carcasses and the ivory had been kept there since April.
"We have yet to determine whether the animals were killed in the state forest reserve or in other forests, but we believe they were hunted for their organs.
"A tiger's carcass can be sold in the black market for RM300,000 each, while a panther's carcass can go up to RM100,000. A piece of ivory is sold between RM10,000 and RM15,000 depending on size," he said.
Shafien said the seizure of the carcasses and the ivory was the first by the state authority since Op Khazanah was launched.
"We are still investigating the case and will continue to track down the rest of the syndicate members," he said, adding that the case had been handed to the wildlife department for further action.