Illegal possession of protected wildlife was uncovered after police arrested a local man and rescued 89 tortoises during two separate raids in Lunas and Kulim, Kedah, on Friday.
The operation, conducted under Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah (Brian Exotic), was carried out by the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation Intelligence (WCB/PSK) of Bukit Aman in collaboration with the Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU) and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) Peninsular Malaysia.
The raids followed intelligence gathered on the suspected storage and illegal possession of protected wildlife species without the necessary permits, highlighting continued enforcement efforts against wildlife-related offences.
WCB/PSK commander Datuk Mohd Zaki Ashar said authorities rescued 89 tortoises comprising 74 Sulcata tortoises and 15 Yellow Pond Turtles during the operation.
Police also seized a sport utility vehicle (SUV) and a mobile phone, bringing the total estimated value of the wildlife and other items confiscated to approximately RM190,000.
Mohd Zaki said the case is being investigated under Section 61 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) (Amendment 2022), as the protected species were allegedly kept without valid licences and believed to have been intended for sale.
He said the enforcement action formed part of the government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding Malaysia’s biodiversity while intensifying efforts to curb the illegal wildlife trade.
According to him, the success of the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led enforcement carried out through close cooperation between WCB/PSK and its strategic enforcement partners.
Mohd Zaki stressed that police would continue expanding integrated operations and intelligence-sharing initiatives to track down and dismantle wildlife trafficking and cross-border smuggling syndicates.
“We will not compromise with anyone involved in wildlife smuggling, illegal wildlife trading or cross-border crime,” he said.
He added that between January and July this year, WCB/PSK recorded 53 cases and 56 arrests under Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah, with the total value of seizures reaching RM93.88 million.
He reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to protecting the nation’s natural heritage, public safety and national interests through firm, professional and continuous enforcement efforts.
