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| Exotic animals like the pangolin are being smuggled across the country by local syndicates in luxury cars to avoid detection. Pic by Mohd Jamah Nasri |
JOHOR BAHARU (July 6, 2012): Syndicates are now
using Johor's lengthy coastline as entry points to bring in exotic
animals from Indonesia, for supply to other countries including China.
According to a source involved in the illegal trade investigations,
the Johor coastline's proximity to Indonesia makes it a main gateway for
the smuggling of these animals from the republic. "Johor is now the main transit for syndicates smuggling exotic
animals from Indonesia," said the source who declined to be named due to
the sensitive nature of the information provided to Bernama today.
The source said, anteaters were among the highly sought after
animals, commanding RM300 per kilogramme for its meat. Due to the high
demand, the syndicates were currently doubling their efforts to smuggle
them in from Indonesia, said the source. Local syndicates who have links in Indonesia use several secluded
beaches in Muar and Batu Pahat, Johor to land their exotic cargo, said
the source. "As soon as the boats come ashore, the local syndicates would unload
the animals into their luxury cars for the next leg of their journey to
the northern boarder," the source said.
They have become smarter and no longer use lorries to minimise the
risk of their entire precious cargo from being confiscated, but
transport them in luxury cars instead to fool the enforcement
authorities, said the source. "Although lorry transport is cheaper, the risk of detection and its
entire load being seized is also higher compared to using a few cars." "If the authorities detain one car, they hope for the other five or
six vehicles to escape and continue north to the border," said the
source.
The source explained that other syndicates take over at the border
and continue overland to China. Questioned as to why the authorities
found it difficult to eradicate the syndicates, the source responded
that the groups spied on the local enforcement agencies' every move. "They (syndicates) also place informants at the beaches to warn the
boats about the presence of enforcement personnel and seem to be always
one step ahead from being detected," said the source.
Source: Bernama
