JOHOR BAHRU: An Indonesian man was arrested by the police on Sunday for alleged smuggling of Syabu and various kinds of birds to a neighbouring country. Johor Region Two Marine Police commander ACP Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said the arrest was made during the operation codenamed Ops Landai at the Sungai Rengit coast in Kota Tinggi, at about 11.10pm.
While the raid was underway, the 30-year-old suspect was loading some baskets and wooden boxes containing the birds onto a fibre boat located at the seaside. “A search on the fibre boat revealed packets believed to contain Syabu weighing about one kilogramme, worth some RM120,000 (according to market prices).
“The raiding team also found seven wooden boxes and baskets containing various kinds of birds believed to be for smuggling into neighbouring countries. The birds include 50 ‘Murai Batu’ (white-rumped shama), Wambi (100 birds) and 40 ‘Poksay’ (black-throated laughing thrush),” he said in a statement here yesterday. – Bernama
