THE Customs Department has foiled a syndicate’s attempt to smuggle wildlife parts, including elephant tusks, rhinoceros horns, pangolin scales and tiger fangs worth RM80 million hidden behind a pile of sawn timber in a container.

Customs director-general Zazuli Johan said the container was seized at West Port, Port Klang on July 10, making it the biggest seizure involving wildlife parts.

He said previously, the department scored a major success when they seized pangolin scales and elephant tusks worth RM40 million and RM2.4 million respectively in 2012.

“The container, believed to be from an African country, was supposed to dock at Pasir Gudang Port, Johor to be transferred to another ship. But we received information on the smuggling attempt and intercepted the container at West Port,” he said at a press conference today.

A check on the container found elephant tusks, weighing about 6,000kg, 29kg of rhinoceros horns, 100kg of pangolin scales, 14kg of wildlife horns and 300kg of animal skulls and bones hidden behind stacked sawn timber, he said.

Zazuli believed that Malaysia is used as a transit before the goods are brought to other countries to be marketed.

He said wildlife part imports are banned under the third schedule of the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008, except with permits issued by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

He, however, said no arrests were made so far, and investigations on the importer and shipping agents are ongoing.

He said the case is being investigated under section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for trying to smuggle illegal or duty unpaid goods via Malaysian ports. – Bernama, July 18, 2022.