Sabah Forestry intercepted group carrying rifles in anti-poaching operation

 By Olivia Miwil - February 26, 2022 @ 8:42pm

Sabah Forestry's PROTECT unit found two rifles in a car intercepted at Jalan Nangoh-Paitan, Beluran. - Piccourtesy of Sabah Forestry Department

BELURAN: The Sabah Forestry enforcement unit intercepted a group of suspected poachers during an operation at Nangoh-Paitan, near the Paitan Forest Reserve border, near here.

The team which made the arrest also found two rifles and some bullets in the four-wheel-drive vehicle the men were travelling in.

The suspects also failed to produce permits for both hunting and firearm ownership. No animal carcass was found in the vehicle.

A report was later lodged at the Beluran police station where the suspects and items seized were handed over to the police for further investigation.

Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Frederick Kugan, in a statement, urged the public not to hunt illegally.

"Apart from being against the law, this act can cause the extinction of the fauna species listed as rare, threatened and endangered such as bulls or tembadau.

"Any information related to illegal wildlife hunting must be reported to the Sabah Forestry Department and the Wildlife Department.

"In addition, using a firearm without a valid licence is an offence under the Firearms Act 1960."