TAWAU: Police have arrested four men, including one foreigner, for allegedly possessing a protected animal species in a raid at a room at Fajar Complex here.
The 11am raid on Friday was conducted by a team of police personnel from Tawau Police Headquarters Narcotics Investigation Division with the Tawau Wildlife Department following information and intelligence.
Tawau police chief Assistant Commissioner Fadil Marsus said the four suspects, aged between 30 and 60, were trying to escape when the place was raided.
“Further checks in the room found a few suspicious boxes and the team found a few Tokay geckos in locked cages inside the boxes,” he said when contacted today.
Fadil said Tokay gecko, or its scientific name Gekko gecko, is listed as endangered and protected by Wildlife Department under Act 716 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
“Urine tests also found one of the suspects positive for methamphetamine and he’s being investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 while the seized geckos have been handed over to Tawau Wildlife Department for further action,” he said.