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Malaysia seizes animal parts worth $18M

July 19, 2022

Malaysian customs officials uncovered a haul containing six metric tons of elephant tusks and 100 kilograms of pangolin scales, among other illegal animal parts.

https://p.dw.com/p/4EJwA
Malaysian customs officials hold up a seized elephant tusk. Other seized animal parts, including skulls and bones, are displayed on a table.
The 6,000 kilogram haul African elephant tusks was the largest bust of its kind in MalaysiaImage: Vincent Thian/AP/picture alliance

Authorities in Malaysia have seized an estimated $18 million (€17.7 million) worth of African elephant tusks, pangolin scales and other illegal animal parts that were part of a single shipment.

The haul included 6,000 kilograms (13,227 pounds) of elephant tusks, 100 kilograms of pangolin scales, 25 kilograms of rhino horns and a further 300 kilograms of animal skulls, bones and horns.

Malaysian customs director-general Zazuli Johan announced on Monday that the seizure of the elephant tusks in particular was the biggest in the country's history.

The haul was discovered on July 10, hidden among timber in a shipping container that had arrived from Africa and contained. Johan added that Malaysia was not the planned final destination for the smuggled animal parts.

A variety of seized animal parts, including elephant tusks, pangolin scales and rhino horns are displayed on a table.
The shipment also contained pangolin scales and rhino hornsImage: Zahim Mohd/NurPhot/picture alliance

Cracking down on a regional issue

Kanitha Krishnasamy, the Southeast Asia director at wildlife trade monitoring group Traffic, called the Malaysian bust a "significant seizure."

"This medley of threatened species in a single seizure is concerning, and it certainly verifies the suspicion that criminals continue to use Malaysian ports to move contraband wildlife," she told the AFP news agency.

Malaysia is one of several Southeast Asian countries identified by conservationists as a hub from which wildlife and animal parts are illegally trafficked to other Asian countries, namely China.

There have been no arrests over the seizure. Investigations into the importer and shipping agent are ongoing.

zc/jsi (AFP, AP, Reuters)

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