A local man was detained for selling protected wildlife parts at a stall in the Tenghilan weekly market, Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar confirmed.
The arrest was made after the department’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) acted on intelligence received about the illegal sale at around 8.50am.
“During the operation, several suspected protected wildlife parts displayed for illegal sale were seized. Confiscated items included two sun bear claws, one sun bear paw, one sun bear tooth, one pangolin scale, one barking deer antler, and 16 porcupine quills,” he said in a statement.
The 30-year-old suspect is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 (WCE 1997), which requires a valid licence or permit for any trade involving protected wildlife.
“No permits are issued for sun bear and pangolin species, as both are classified as Totally Protected. Possessing, storing, selling, or trading these species or any of their parts without authorisation is an offence under WCE 1997,” Mohd Soffian added.
Conviction carries a fine between RM50,000 and RM250,000, as well as imprisonment for one to five years.
