AKPS Foils Attempt to Smuggle 45 Wildlife Parts at Penang Airport
Source: Penang Today
The Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) intercepted an attempt to smuggle 45 wildlife parts through Penang International Airport on 20 August, seizing the items from an Indonesian man who arrived on a flight from Guangzhou, China.
The 57-year-old passenger was stopped during a routine luggage inspection at Bayan Lepas after landing on a China Southern airline flight. Officers discovered 45 suspected animal horns in his baggage, all without the required permits or valid documentation, as reported by FMT.
The items are valued at approximately RM5,000, The Star noted, citing the agency’s statement issued on Saturday (22 August). AKPS confirmed all 45 pieces have been seized and handed over to the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for further investigation.
The seizure was made under Section 68(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act (Act 716), which prohibits the possession and transport of wildlife products without a valid permit. Under the Act, offenders face penalties of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both. The provision is one of several sections in the Wildlife Conservation Act that give enforcement agencies powers to seize and confiscate wildlife products found at Malaysia’s entry points.
AKPS said in its statement that it “reiterates its commitment to strengthening partnerships between agencies to combat all forms of cross-border crime, particularly wildlife smuggling at the country’s entry points.” The agency was established to consolidate border enforcement functions previously handled by multiple agencies under a single command structure, giving it broader powers to detect and intercept illegal shipments.
Perhilitan will now examine the seized horns to determine the exact species and whether they originate from protected wildlife. The Indonesian national is expected to face investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Act once the examination is concluded. No comment has been obtained from the suspect or his legal representatives regarding the charges.
Wildlife trafficking remains a persistent challenge for Malaysian authorities. The country’s geographic position and well-connected airports make it a known transit hub for illegal wildlife products moving between Africa, South Asia, and East Asia. AKPS has reported multiple interception successes at airports across the peninsula, underscoring the ongoing enforcement effort at Malaysia’s entry points.
