LUNDU: A 56-year-old man was detained when 21 protected birds were found in his possession at a house in Kampung Sebat, Sematan.
The seizure was made following a raid during the ‘Ops Bersepadu Khazanah’ by the General Operations Force (GOF) together with the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) at 3.30pm on Wednesday.
GOF 11th Battalion commanding officer Supt Rosdi Inai said checks on the house found a crestless fireback, two atlantic canary parrots, eight parakeet and ten love birds worth RM15,000.
“Further investigation revealed that the birds were domesticated without permit which led to the arrest of a man who admitted to being the owner of the said birds,” he said in a statement.
Rosdi said it is believed that the animals were obtained from a neighbouring country.
The case was handed over to the SFC for further action and will be further investigated under Section 29 (1) of the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 and imprisonment of not exceeding five years.
He urged the public to continue the close cooperation with the enforcers to curb smuggling activities as well as protecting the country’s treasure.
