SEMATAN: Sarawak has been flagged as a new transit point for wildlife smuggling, with turtle eggs, turtles and reptiles among the trafficked species through the State’s land, air and sea routes.
Royal Malaysian Customs Department’s Director-General, Datuk Wira Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin, said the finding, based on analysis from Ops Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK) conducted between April and September this year, recorded 444 arrests and seizures nationwide.
While Selangor, Johor and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) remain the main hotspots, Sarawak’s strategic location along the maritime trade routes between Kalimantan and the Peninsular has made it increasingly attractive to traffickers.
“Sarawak is becoming a new focus for syndicates due to its vast land and sea routes, coupled with logistical challenges in the interior areas.
“Therefore, we are strengthening risk profiling, real-time intelligence sharing, and the use of technology to intercept these activities,” she said at a press conference after chairing the 18th OBK meeting here on Thursday.
Among the major cases recorded in Sarawak this year were the smuggling of turtle eggs and live turtles, which led to prison sentences ranging from four to eight months and fines of up to RM55,000 imposed on both local and foreign offenders.
The cases were handled by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) in collaboration with various enforcement agencies.
Anis explained that smuggling trends have been declining following the implementation of OBK, although attempts continue through alternative routes such as Thailand or Indonesia.
She added that the joint operation’s latest series recorded the highest number of offences under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, with 158 cases, followed by 137 cases under the Customs Act 1967, and 41 cases under the National Forestry Act 1984. Total seizures were valued at RM204.43 million.
“For wildlife specimen seizures, the most common types involved birds, mammals and reptiles,” she said.
“Meanwhile, cases under the National Forestry Act 1984, particularly for forest products such as agarwood, recorded the highest seizure value of RM134.02 million. This reflects a strong market demand for exotic and commercially valuable species.”
Anis pointed out that enforcement must go hand in hand with conservation.
“OBK is not merely a seizure operation but a national movement to protect the country’s natural treasures from extinction,” she stressed.
“It has become one of the most comprehensive enforcement collaboration models in the region, involving multiple government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure that Malaysia’s natural heritage remains preserved for future generations.”
