The authorities have seized 10 protected birds and tiger parts in separate operations in the past few weeks, arresting three men including an Indonesian, a wildlife department official said today.

bird white rumped shama 110609 A 37-year-old Indonesian was held at the Kuala Lumpur airport after customs officials found 10 white-rumped Shama birds in his hand luggage, Department of Wildlife and National Parks enforcement chief Saharudin Anan told AFP .

"The scan showed there were 10 birds in the box he was carrying," Saharudin said, putting the birds' value at RM100,000. The man was fined RM2,000 over last week's incident, he added.

Late last month, authorities detained two Malaysians after a high-speed chase on the country's northern border with Thailand, seizing three kilos of tiger parts worth about RM3,000.

The two men are due to be charged in court on June 24. They face up to five years in prison if convicted of wildlife trafficking.

Wildlife groups say trafficking of wildlife for traditional medicine and kitchens abroad have hit alarming levels in Malaysia.

Authorities in recent months have seized tiger skins, remains of civet cats, long-tailed monkeys and wild boar destined for sale in neighbouring countries.

- AFP