A 66-year-old trader was arrested after authorities discovered 34 protected frogs, believed to be worth around RM500 each, stored at a premises along Jalan Tras, Bentong on Wednesday.
The elderly man was detained after failing to produce any valid licence or permit to possess the protected wildlife species.
Southeast Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the seizure was made during an integrated operation under Ops Bersepadu Khazanah at about 5pm.
He said the operation was carried out by members of the GOF 7th Battalion Special Forces team together with the Pahang Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) following intelligence received.
During an inspection at the storage area, authorities found the protected frogs, which are classified as wildlife under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Ahmad Radzi said preliminary investigations found that the frogs, estimated to be worth RM17,000 in total, were obtained from Orang Asli communities in Kampung Gebak and Kampung Gabong, Bentong.
“The suspect claimed that buyers would contact him to place orders, and the animals were believed to have been supplied to several exotic food outlets in the state,” he said.
All the seized frogs were handed over to Perhilitan for further action, while the case is being investigated under Section 60 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
Ahmad Radzi said monitoring and intelligence efforts would continue to be strengthened to detect and prevent illegal possession, storage and trade of protected wildlife without valid permits.
He added that such enforcement was important to ensure endangered species were protected from exploitation.
