Saved: A combination of photos of various types of tortoises that were seized by the authorities. — Wildlife Crime Bureau
KUALA LUMPUR: Plans are underway to expand the scope of Bukit Aman’s Wildlife Crime Bureau (WCB) to cover national treasures and heritage sites too.
The WCB, under Bukit Aman’s Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA), was formed last July and comprised 50 officers and personnel.
“Since then, it has been merged with the Special Intelligence Unit and the number of officers and personnel has increased to 75,” Comm Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali (pic) said in an interview recently.
“Beyond wildlife, we want to expand the duties of WCB to protect our national treasures.”
The KDNKA director added that the duties of WCB would include protecting the nation’s resources against illegal mining, illegal logging and fish bombing activities.
“We will also look into protecting archaeological sites,” Comm Hazani said.
While WCB has not officially expanded, he said work to do so had begun.
“Recently, we uncovered an illegal gold mining operation in Sabah and illegal logging activities have been detected in other states such as Sarawak.
“WCB is playing its part to prevent leakages, which will cost the country dearly. At the same time, we are protecting our national treasures and heritage for future generations,” he added.
Comm Hazani said he expected WCB to be expanded within this year. “In principle, the Inspector-General of Police has agreed on the expansion,” he said.
In terms of manpower, he said he planned to utilise the existing unit and divisions under KDNKA.
“For example, we will use the General Operations Force (GOF) as well as joint operations with Perhilitan under Ops Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK).
“The marine police will be deployed to protect our sea creatures against fish bombing,” he said.
Setting up a Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Banting, Selangor, is also in the pipeline.
“We will deploy the GOF’s Senoi Praaq unit to conduct operations following several reports of poaching in the area
“The Senoi Praaq are crack troops comprising Orang Asli GOF personnel who specialise in deep jungle reconnaissance work. They are famed for their tracking and survival skills as well as jungle warfare,” he said.
Protecting the bio-diversity or nature required an all encompassing approach, Comm Hazani said.
“To protect endangered animals such as the Malayan tigers requires efforts to safeguard the entire ecosystem and food chain.”
Since its formation last year, the WCB had conducted 38 operations nationwide, Comm Hazani said.
“Seventy-three individuals, including poachers, smugglers and transporters have been detained. We also seized more than RM12mil worth of wildlife,” he added.
The WCB also uncovered various modus operandi used by poachers and smugglers, Comm Hazani said.
“Poachers obtain firearms by renting them from individuals who have been granted licence,” he said.
“Smugglers also use media platforms such as TikTok and popular online shopping sites to do their marketing.
“In order to curb this MO, WCB approached these platform providers for continuous collaborations to stop the illegal activities.”
When it was formed, WCB was established as a government effort to curb wildlife smuggling activities in the country in general and to improve good governance and effectiveness in carrying out conservation of the Malayan tiger in particular, he said.
“It is the right time to expand its scope by protecting and preserving national treasures,” he said.
