The Ministry Of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) through its Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) is deeply concerned with the allegation that Malaysia is a rising international transit point for wildlife smuggling with the reports on seizures of elephant tusks in Tanzania and Hong Kong as reported in Malaysiakini, ‘ Custom seizes 1000 elephant tusks ’ (Sept 3).

Nevertheless, the Ministry through its department has doubled its efforts to fight against illegal wildlife smuggling. On the other hand, the Ministry and Perhilitan will beef up existing integration, cooperation and information networking with other national and international law enforcement agencies to address wildlife conservation especially in the enforcement of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 [Act 716] and International Trade In Endangered Species Act 2008 [Act 686].

Currently, the department is also working very closely with the Interpol, CITES secretariats and Asean Wildlife Law Enforcement Network (ASEAN WEN) in combatting wildlife smuggling.

In fact, the Department and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department had succeeded in intercepting two attempts to smuggle elephant tusks recently based on the information provided by Interpol and this is where the Malaysian authorities requires support from Interpol and NGOs.  In the cases of Pasir Gudang and Butterworth, precise information played a big role that enabled the authorities to detect the exact container with the illegal shipment.

The first shipment of 405 African elephant tusks declared as plywood was confiscated from a container on July 8 in the Free Trade Zone of Pasir Gudang Port.

The second attempt was foiled on Aug 21 at Butterworth Port in Penang where a total of 664 African elephant tusks were discovered in a container from UAE which were declared as used plastics. The Royal Malaysian Customs are investigating both seizures under section 133(2) and 135 of the Custom Act 1967 [Act 235]. Perhilitan will be able to proceed investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 [Act 716] and the International Trade In Endangered Species Act 2008 [Act 686] forensic examination will be conducted on the ivories at its Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank (WGRB).

However, the Ministry is surprised that some NGOs did not appreciate the efforts made by the Malaysia authorities in curbing wildlife smuggling in this region but this will not dampen the spirit of the strategic alliance that Perhilitan has with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Anti-Smuggling Unit, Malaysian Armed Forces, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Royal Malaysian Police in the aspect of monitoring goods entering the country via long coastal seas, border entry points, ports and airports including free trade zones for goods in transit.

With regards to the seizure of elephant tusks that took place in Hong Kong few days ago, the Department will contact the Hong Kong authority for a thorough report and to check with the relevant port authorities to ascertain whether the ship that brought the shipment was in transit at any Malaysian ports.

The writer is from the corporate communications unit of the Ministry Of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)