International News

MEDAN, Indonesia, June 14, (APP/AFP): Indonesian authorities have
seized hundreds of critically endangered pangolins and scales in a haul worth $190,000 after uncovering a major smuggling operation, an official said Wednesday.
Two men were also arrested after navy officers raided a warehouse
near a port on Sumatra island late Tuesday, acting on a tip-off that it was being used to store the creatures which are also known as “scaly anteaters”.
They discovered 223 live pangolins, 24 of the creatures which were
already dead and frozen as well as nine large bags of pangolin scales, local navy spokesman Sahala Sinaga told AFP.
He said the total haul seized near the city of Medan, which was going
to be sent to neighbouring Malaysia, was worth an estimated 2.5 billion rupiah (about $190,000).
It was further evidence that trade in the world’s most heavily
trafficked mammal remains a major problem despite concerted efforts to clamp down.
Last year, the reclusive, gentle mammal received the highest level of
protection against illegal trade at a global conference in South Africa.
Sinaga said the detained men, both 43, were suspected of being small
players in a larger syndicate. They could face up to five years in jail and a fine of 100 million rupiah if found guilty of breaking wildlife protection laws.
“They claimed the pangolins would be shipped to Malaysia,” said
Sinaga, adding the scales could have been intended for use in the production of crystal methamphetamine.