Malaysian wildlife authorities today said they had seized 280 live pangolins and arrested three suspects believed to be part of an international smuggling ring trafficking endangered animals to restaurants in China.

"The pangolins were in a lorry bound for southern Thailand," said Abdul Jalal Kassim, Wildlife Department head of operations.

"The end market for these protected animals would have been Guangzhou, China, where they would be sold for their meat and scales," he told AFP .

The live pangolins were discovered late Monday in Johor following a tip-off, he said.

"This is part of an international syndicate linking Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and China," said Abdul Jalal.

He said the scaly anteaters could fetch around RM50 per kilogramme in Malaysia, with each animal weighing about eight to 13 kilos. In China, the price could go up to RM100 per kilo, he said.

"It's a lucrative business, that's why these smuggling activities are so rampant, with a number of syndicates smuggling pangolins and other protected animals across the border," he said.

"Our department has been cooperating with our neighbours like Thailand, exchanging information on our animals being smuggled there and vice versa," he said.

The rescued pangolins would soon be released in the country's national parks and wildlife reserves, he said.

Facing fine

A Malaysian man, his Thai wife and a Malaysian lorry driver would be charged with possessing and smuggling protected animals, which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 and up to 10 years in jail, Abdul Jalal said.

However, those convicted rarely get severe punishments, he said pointing out that a local man charged with smuggling 218 pangolins last month was Tuesday fined RM4,500 and received no jail sentence.

The scaly anteaters found in Asia and Africa are considered a delicacy in China and other countries, and are prized for their use in traditional medicine. - AFP