GOF seizes 30 birds worth RM24,000 bound for illegal wildlife trade

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Friediel (right) examines the various birds seized from the suspect.

SIBU: The General Operations Force (GOF) here rescued 30 various species of protected birds worth about RM24,000 from a plantation at 2km Jalan Tuah, off Jalan Nibong, Kanowit.

GOF personnel stormed into the house at about 4pm yesterday afternoon, after they received a tip-off said Deputy Commanding Officer Friediel Nyambong.

“They found various colourful protected birds, all caged up and identified them accordingly,” he said in a press statement.

He said an Indonesian national, who claimed to be the owner of the birds, have also been detained for illegal possession of the birds after he failed to produce any of the necessary permits to keep them.

He said the modus operandi of the suspects were to keep the birds in the cage before selling them off to middlemen to be smuggled into Indonesia.

The case has been handed over to Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) for investigation under Section 29 of the Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance 998, which carries a fine of RM10,000 and a one-year jail sentence, if convicted.