KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 52 wild animals, including 48 Common Marmosets and four suspected Golden-Handed Tamarins, seized by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), were destined for pet shops in Malaysia to be sold as exotic animals.
Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim told the NST today that the seizure of these small primates, native to South America, "was a blow to transboundary animal smugglers."
"These primates are believed to have been smuggled from an African country, with Malaysia as their intended destination," he said.
Abdul Kadir confirmed that the primates were intended to be sold as pets.
Perhilitan intercepted the shipment during an operation following a tip-off at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Pos Aviation Cargo, Free Trade Zone, on Tuesday.
The animals are listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning their trade is only legal if they are acquired with the necessary permits.
Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, praised Perhilitan for successfully thwarting the smuggling attempt.
"This is a significant number of non-native animals. Congratulations to the agencies involved for halting the shipment before it reached its final destination," she told the NST.
Kanitha stressed the importance of cooperation between POS Aviation and Perhilitan in this case.
"It's deeply concerning that smugglers continue to use Malaysian airports to traffic wildlife. There have been far too many such incidents this year. It's vital that we identify those facilitating and masterminding these operations," she said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Kadir noted that the seizure underscores ongoing concerns about illegal wildlife trafficking, with investigations into the smuggling syndicate behind the operation still ongoing.
The Common Marmoset is typically found in Brazil's forests, while Golden-Handed Tamarins inhabit the forests of Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname.
A suspect has been arrested under the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686) for further investigation.
The law ensures that international trade in endangered species is legal, sustainable, and does not harm the conservation status of species.
Penalties for violations under the Act include fines of up to RM 100,000 for individuals, RM 500,000 for corporations, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, depending on the severity of the offence.
KW: conservation, primates, smuggle, Africa, NST, News, Malaysia