A former policeman is serving a one-year prison sentence for keeping 18 pangolins in plastic bags without food or water in the trunk of his car, and attempting to smuggle them out of Malaysia.
The smuggler was identified as Muhammad Norazzuan Ahmad Zahari, who was arrested on September 22nd, 2012, according to the New Straits Times. He was sentenced by Judge Mohd Rosli Osman in the town of Alor Setar after pleading guilty to four charges.
1) Section 86(1)(b)(c) (f) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010: Keeping the 18 pangolins in the trunk of his car at Bukit Kayu Hitam;
2) Section 68 (1) (a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716): Keeping five pangolins in the same place on the same day;
3) Section 69 (1) (a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716): Keeping seven immature pangolins in the same place and day;
4) Section 70 (1) (a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716): Keeping six female pangolins in the same place and day.
The judge handed down six months for the first count, eight months for the second, ten for the third and twelve for the fourth. However, Muhammad Norazzuan was ordered to serve the time concurrently from the date of his arrest.
Based on seizure numbers, an estimated 60,000 pangolins were victims of the illegal trade in 2012.
![Pangolin Trafficking: 2011 to August 2013 [Infographic]](https://annamiticus.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/PangolinsInTrade2011thruAugust2013-150x150.jpg)
Rhishja Cota
I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.