Pangolins seized in Malaysia

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 | Source: DPA

MALAYSIA: Malaysian authorities have seized nearly 300 endangered pangolins that were being illegally smuggled into neighboring Thailand, news reports said on Sunday.

Anti-smuggling enforcement officers found the live pangolins -- scaly anteaters -- worth about 17,640 ringgit (US$4,642) in a truck traveling in northern Perlis state on Saturday, enforcement officer Rooslan Radzi said in Kuala Lumpur.

A 37-year-old Malaysian driver was arrested, Rooslan told the national Bernama news agency.

Pangolins are considered a delicacy in many Asian countries, where they fetch high prices on the black market. They are also are often used in traditional medicine.

Under Malaysian wildlife laws, the smuggler could be jailed for three years, Rooslan added. -- DPA

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