Illegal wildlife seized

[geovalin]

Phak Seangly

About 86 kilograms of live wildlife and meat was seized from an illegal trader in Stung Treng province on Tuesday during a police raid of his home, according to officials.

Chhouk Komorl, Stung Treng town police chief, said officers seized 49 magpies, an iguana, three dead porcupines and more than 48 kilograms of boar meat from the home of 38-year-old Keo Rattanak.

“That home illegally stores wild animals for selling to customers,” he said.

Police conducted the raid in cooperation with the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT), a law-enforcement unit supported by local NGO Wildlife Alliance.

According to Komorl, Rattanak was ordered to pay a $3,500 fine.

An officer from the WRRT, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak with the media, said Rattanak claimed he could not afford to pay the fine, so the case was forwarded to the provincial court.

In a separate raid on Tuesday in Ratanakkiri province’s Banlung town, police seized almost 20 kilograms of illegal wildlife meat from vendors at a popular market following a Post investigation.

However, a local villager, who gave his name only as Phearim, said that sales of wildlife meat at Banlung Market had already resumed yesterday.

“I saw the meats of boar, monitor lizard, red muntjac deer and dried loris. There were about 30 kilograms in total. It might be more than that; they hide it from us,” he said.

Nouv Dara, chief of the provincial Anti-Economic Crime Office, said police would conduct another raid today.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/illegal-wildlife-seized

[Local Drunk]

A fine of 3,500 baht... I'm curious. What does a kilo of Loris go for? Anyone know?

[Local Drunk]

"Nouv Dara, chief of the provincial Anti-Economic Crime Office, said police would conduct another raid today."

Sure, let them know that you're coming. What is it with these officials that just shoot off their mouths because a microphone is in front of them?

[garyk]

A fine of 3,500 baht... I'm curious. What does a kilo of Loris go for? Anyone know?

Cambodia uses the U.S. dollar. So it is dollars not baht.

But, still a ridiculous low amount for illegal trade IMO.