Man arrested, two birds worth RM50,000 seized

KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) arrested a man for possessing two hill mynas estimated to be worth RM50,000 without the required permits during Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan at Kampung Banggol Pak Esah, Selising, Pasir Puteh, yesterday.

Hill mynas are classified as a 'Protected Wildlife' species and are highly sought after for their mimicry skills.

Southeast Brigade GOF commander, Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain, said intelligence personnel from GOF's Battalion 7 in Kuantan, Pahang, arrested the 32-year-old man following an operation at 5.45pm, which uncovered the birds in a shed beside the suspect's house.

"The man failed to produce any documents pertaining to ownership of the birds, which are believed to have been in his possession since 2019 after he bought them from a friend in Gua Musang," he said in a statement.

Ahmad Radzi said police also seized two bird cages estimated to be worth RM800.

He said the seized items and the suspect were handed over to the Kelantan Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for further investigation and action.

The case is being investigated under Section 60(1)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).

He said the operation involved cooperation between the GOF and Kelantan Perhilitan to curb the possession of wildlife without permits.