Malaysian Officials Seize Animal Body Parts Worth $18 Million USD as International Wildlife Trafficking Continues

Animal body parts, including elephant tusks, rhino horns, and pangolin scales, were recovered by local authorities at a port in Malaysia, in a recent case indicating the continuance of international wildlife trafficking into the Southeast Asian country.

The said animal parts were estimated to be worth $18 million USD and thought to have originated from Africa.

The recent incident adds to the growing number of illegal wildlife trade and smuggling in Malaysia, making it one of the hubs for wildlife trafficking in the world.

Incoming animal parts are reportedly sold across the country, especially to underground yet lucrative regional markets.

While Malaysia has existing laws against the said illegal activity, wildlife smuggling is still able to penetrate the nation, notably through international flights and cargo shipment.

This prompted local officials to implement increased security at entry points nationwide, including airports and seaports.

Rare Animal Parts Seizure

Malaysian customs officials on Monday, July 18, confirmed the rare animal parts seizure as a result of a foiled smuggling attempt from an illicit cargo in Port Klang, located in Malaysia's west coast, according to Channel News Asia.

The smuggled wildlife products were hidden inside a container along with timber and it weighs to be around 6,000 kilograms containing elephant tusks.

Customs Department Chief Zazuli Johan said it was Malaysia's largest single seizure of elephant ivory, as cited by the Singapore-based media agency.

In particular, the shipment also contained 300 kilograms of animal skulls and bones, 100 kilograms of pangolin scales, and 29 kilograms of rhino horns, Johan adds during a press conference.

In its local currency, the animal parts' collective value is 80 million ringgits.

Furthermore, the customs official said the animal products possibly came from Africa and clarified the shipment's final destination was not Malaysia.

International Wildlife Trafficking

Elephant tusks, pangolin scales, and other animal parts are popular in countries Southeast Asian like China and Vietnam where they can be used for traditional medicine, according to Channel News Asia.

Last week's single seizure was hailed but also raised concerns since it confirms previous suspicions that criminal continue to utilize Malaysian ports to smuggle contraband wildlife, according to Kanitha Krishnasamy, the Southeast Asia director of Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring group.

Malaysia Wildlife Crime

Various wildlife conservation organizations claim that such activities endanger wild animals, including animals that are under the International Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The list consists the world's largest inventory of the conservation status of animal species globally.

According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in October 2017, Malaysia is caught in a battle against both domestic and international wildlife traffickers, who are seeking to collect their fair share of trade from the profitable criminal activity.

Despite the challenge, the UNODC acknowledged the successful efforts of Malaysian authorities at preventing shipments of trafficked wildlife products.

The feat also includes not only the mentioned seized animal parts but also those coming from turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.