Six pangolin traffickers were sentenced to prison in Malaysia for “unlawful possession and illegal confinement” of 150 pangolins.
The smugglers were identified as Mazlan Razaki, his brother Muhammad Rizal, Nazeri Hassan, Oon Eng Beng, Muhammad Aidi Azwan Azahari, and Syed Muhayazid Syed Mohamed. All six have reportedly been jailed for one year each, and fined a total of RM330,000 (US $103,986). They were arrested in 2012 when the pangolins were found inside the trunks of three vehicles. Of the 150 pangolins, all except 26 were females and 91 were described as “immature”.
According to the New Straits Times, Judge Mohd Rosli Osman found the six guilty of violating Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Act of 2010.
Judge Mohd Rosli Osman ruled that the prosecution had proved its case against the six beyond reasonable doubt.
The traffickers’ legal counsel is planning to appeal the case.
![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.