KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) detained four men and two Vietnamese women after they were found keeping wildlife parts without valid documentation.
The wildlife parts found with the six suspects include skin, fangs and tiger claws.
The suspects between the ages of 20 and 40 were arrested at a factory in Kuala Lipis Pahang yesterday.
Perhilitan Director-General Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the suspects were believed to be illegal wildlife hunters, using snares as the main means of trapping and killing wild animals, especially Tigers, in the past three years.
He said the individuals could make a profit of up to RM200,000 for a piece of tiger skin in the black market.
"Among the wildlife parts which were confiscated were two tiger skins, meaning the seizure amounted to RM400,000.
"Other wildlife parts include 20 bear claws, four Serow horns, 12 wild boar canine tooth’s, 39 kilogrammes of wild life meat, amounting to RM100,000 in seizures.
"Overall, the seizure value reached RM500,000," he said in a press conference, here, today.
He said the suspects are being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) for hunting wildlife that was fully protected and the use of snares.
"They had been remanded for seven days, from July 4,” Kadir said.