Wildlife Smuggling at KLIA: A National Embarrassment

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is alarmed by yet another case of wildlife smuggling involving exotic species through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which remains a key transit point for traffickers in the booming illegal wildlife trade.

In early March, two smugglers boarded a Malaysia Airlines flight to Chennai with wildlife concealed in a suitcase, passing undetected through KLIA. The haul included eight exotic species, among them endangered Eastern Grey Gibbons, marbled polecats, a silvery lutung, and a Sumatran white-bearded palm civet. Tragically, three baby siamang gibbons were found dead.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, there were 11 known wildlife smuggling cases involving gibbons, koel birds, turtles, iguanas, and other rare species. Destinations included Bengaluru, Surabaya, Chennai, Hanoi, Port Blair, and Mumbai — India accounted for nearly 73% of these, with four cases detected at Chennai Airport alone.

KLIA has long been exploited by traffickers due to its high volume of passengers and cargo, strategic location, and the presence of a Free Commercial Zone. Even Malaysian officials, including Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi, acknowledge KLIA as a high-risk entry point.

Trafficking syndicates — especially those moving species from Africa and Southeast Asia —continue to exploit enforcement loopholes and weaknesses at KLIA. Despite efforts to improve security and inter-agency collaboration, enforcement agencies remain one step behind traffickers.

CAP is particularly disturbed by the rising number of exotic animals smuggled into India from Malaysia. In one case in November 2024, 40 rare animals, including juvenile rhinoceros iguanas, beaded lizards, tortoises, and agile gibbons, were trafficked into India.

It is both baffling and unacceptable that traffickers can slip through airport security so easily. Was this due to a lack of surveillance, technical failures, or negligence? How did entire suitcases of live animals evade detection?

In June 2024, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) donated two Belgian Malinois detection dogs to PERHILITAN to assist in enforcement at KLIA. However, the airport still lacks advanced bio-detection technologies such as heartbeat or carbon dioxide (CO₂) sensors. While MAHB has pledged to upgrade surveillance, there has been no clear timeline or action plan.

Given the immense implications of wildlife trafficking, CAP urges MAHB to urgently invest in modern detection tools. Malaysia’s legal framework, including the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, provides for harsh penalties, and as a CITES signatory, the country must uphold global standards.

Air transport remains traffickers’ preferred mode due to its speed, low risk, and high profits. Factors like airport size, customs procedures, and enforcement quality influence smugglers’ choice of transit hubs. KLIA, with its current vulnerabilities, remains a prime target.

While Indian airports have also faced challenges, their enforcement has benefited from sharper customs profiling, manual screening, and intelligence-led approaches. India has recently stepped up its response through training programmes led by TRAFFIC, WWF-India, and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), focusing on detection, legal procedures, and forensic skills.

Public education is equally critical. Greater awareness of the consequences of wildlife trafficking — on biodiversity, public health, and national security — can help reduce demand for exotic pets.

CAP welcomes recent statements by Ministers Nik Nazmi and Anthony Loke, who have pledged stronger enforcement and criticised MAHB for inaction. We urge swift, decisive steps to close enforcement gaps.

Finally, CAP calls for harsher penalties for exotic pet owners to curb demand and deter future offences. Without strong and sustained action against traffickers, enablers, and consumers alike, this transnational crime will persist.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers’ Association of Penang

Letter to the Editor, 8 April 2025