Marine engineer among 13 held for smuggling Indian pangolins to China

A baby Pangolin. (Getty images)

BHOPAL: In a major breakthrough Madhya Pradesh forest department on Monday arrested 13 people including a Kolkata-based marine engineer and a corporator involved in smuggling Indian pangolins to China and Vietnam.

Accused have allegedly confessed to poaching and trafficking of 100 pangolins from Madhya Pradesh to China in the last 12 months. Officials confiscated 2 kg pangolin scales from their possession. Blood, meat and scales of pangolins are sold to traditional medical practitioners at a premium in south eastern countries.

Those arrested from Kolkata have been identified as Jamal Iqbal, 59, and his son Danish, 24. Eleven others including an independent corporator were arrested from Chhindwara district.

While Jamal is into leather business, his son Danish was studying marine engineering and was arrested three days before completion of his course.

Chief conservator of forest (CCF), Chhindwara, Chitranjan Tyagi told TOI Jamal had developed a large pangolin poaching network in Madhya Pradesh with the help of Nafeez Ahmad, an independent corporator in Chhindwara. Read More

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Pangolin smugglers busted near Gerik

Just in time: Perhilitan officers rescuing the pangolins which were kept in blue plastic bags.

18 live pangolins were recovered from a car travelling along a highway in northern Malaysia towards the Thailand border 

The state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) rescued 18 pangolins as the animals were being transported in a car.

Perhilitan officers spotted the car, a black Proton Perdana, at 2.30am as the vehicle overtook them on the East-West Highway near Gerik last Saturday.

“Based on its registration number, they identified the car as suspected of being involved in wildlife smuggling.

 “They trailed the car before apprehending the driver at a petrol station.

“Following a search they discovered the pangolins, which were kept in 16 blue-coloured plastic bags,” said the department’s spokesman in a press release on the same day of the arrest.

An adult passenger was also detained.

A report was then lodged at the Gerik police station whereupon the two male adults were remanded for further investigation. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, the offence carries a fine of not less than RM50,000 and not more than RM100,000 or a jail term of up to three years or both.

Perhilitan urged the public to alert the department any activity suspected of contravening the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 at 1300-80-1010 or email pakp@wildlife.gov.my

Source: thestar.com.my