MUAR: Marine police (PPM) foiled an attempt to smuggle in a baby orang utan and eight other protected animals worth RM403,000 near here.

Region Two PPM commander ACP Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said the success was due to the department’s surveillance of the Parit Unas Fishermen’s Jetty on Saturday night after getting a tip-off about the smuggling attempt.

After waiting for almost an hour, the marine police noticed a Perodua Alza car approaching the jetty.

Crew members from a boat at the jetty then unloaded several containers into the car.

“Alerted to the presence of authorities, the driver of the Perodua Alza sped off but we managed to intercept the vehicle and detain the driver after a short chase,” he told reporters here.

ACP Khiu said the local man, 28, was detained while the four boxes were found to contain two orang utans including a baby orang utan, six gibbons and an albino fox.

The smuggler’s boat was intercepted by a marine police patrol boat and the crew comprising three Indonesian men aged between 23 and 40 were arrested.

ACP Khiu said all the animals which were believed to have been brought in from a neighbouring country have been handed over to the Wildlife Department.

He said the animals were believed to have been brought into the country to be sold on the black market for shows and as pets.

“We believe the smuggling syndicate is using sea routes at Sungai Muar to Parit Unas to smuggle in the animals before landing at the jetty.

“The animals are then sent to Selangor to be delivered to the buyers.”

ACP Khiu said the four suspects were remanded under Section 69(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and Section 5(2) and Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. — Bernama