Border security agency thwarts snake smuggling at Thai border

The Malaysian Border Security Agency (Aksem) confiscated a sack containing naja kaouthia (monocled cobras) found in the bushes in Kampung Kolam, Padang Besar, Perlis some 100m from a border fence on the Malaysia-Thailand border, yesterday.

Aksem Perlis commander, DSP Rodzi Abu Hassan, said the blue bag with 154 snakes was found at 6pm by a team of Aksem Padang Besar detectives with the help from members of the public.

The border agency believes the snakes were en route to Thailand and were left near the fence by a smuggling syndicate led by a local.

“They would wait for the right time. We believe they would have tossed it over the fence to avoid detection by the authorities,” said Rodzi.

He said the snakes, estimated to be worth more than RM30,000, have been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) and that the case will be investigated under Section 60 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) for illegal possession of wild animals. — Bernama