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| Image Source: mmea.gov.my |
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| Image Source: mmea.gov.my |
Alor Gajah: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) saved 26 pangolins from ending in cooking pots after detaining two men at the Pulau Hanyut waters here last night.
Kuala Linggi MMEA Capt (Maritime) Abu Bakar Idris said the two men, aged 40 and 41, were in a boat at 8.15pm and tried to escape when spotted by the MMEA vessel that was on patrol in the area.
Abu Bakar said when spotted by the MMEA, the boat sped off to the
Malaysia/Indonesia border towards Banda Hilir but the MMEA vessel
managed to intercept the boat about five nautical miles from Pulau
Hanyut.
"Upon inspecting the boat, we found 26 sacks filled with pangolins
while the duo failed to show any documents for the animals," he told
reporters here today. He added that the suspects may have thrown a
number of sacks into the sea to erase evidence.
Abu Bakar said initial investigations revealed that the pangolins, an
exotic meat here, was worth RM50,000 and smuggled into the country from
Indonesia to be sold in Melaka.
