KUALA LUMPUR: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) foiled an attempt to smuggle 17 suspected radiated tortoises worth RM189,886 on Thursday night.
Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the tortoises were smuggled from Madagascar to Malaysia.
"Acting on information, on Dec 26, 2024, at 10.30pm, Perhilitan foiled an attempt to smuggle wildlife during an inspection and seizure of a consignment from Ethiopian Airlines at the Pos Aviation Cargo complex at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
"The seizure involved 17 suspected radiated tortoises smuggled in one of two cardboard boxes, which were falsely declared as containing live plants," he said in a statement today.
He added that no suspects were detained as no individual came forward to claim the consignment.
"Further checks revealed that all the information provided on the consignment was falsified," he said, adding that the consignment's entry violated the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008.
He also said a police report had been lodged and a seizure notice under both Acts had been issued.
"All seized items have been confiscated for further investigation by Perhilitan. The case will also be investigated under both Acts, where Perhilitan will conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether this case is linked to syndicates involved in previous smuggling cases involving turtle species."