KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian man was arrested for attempting to smuggle protected wild birds out of the country by stuffing them into polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2), yesterday afternoon.
The PVC pipes stuffed with Asian Koels– a subspecies of the cuckoo family native to this country, were placed in a box purportedly containing 'souvenirs' from Malaysia that was caught at a security checkpoint in terminal 2 of the airport.
Peninsular Malaysia Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) Department director-general, Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, said the suspect's smuggling attempt was thwarted by a team of his officers assisted by KLIA2 auxiliary police.
He said his officers conducted inspections on the suspect's luggage that appeared suspicious.
"Further inspection revealed three illegal birds concealed within three PVC pipes.
"As a result, a man in his 50s, an Indonesian national, was arrested for questioning. The suspect was subsequently remanded, and the case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 [Act 716] and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 [Act 686]," he said.
On Feb 22, a local man was also arrested while attempting to smuggle three Sulcata tortoises from North Africa through KLIA.
The suspect, in his 50s, was arrested after being suspected of attempting to smuggle three tortoises hidden in three separate boxes.
The Sulcata tortoise is the third-largest tortoise in the world. This animal is native to the African deserts and can live up to 100 years.