subject: Malaysia: 300 Tortoises And Cannabis Found In Luggage From Mauritius [print this page] Malaysia: 300 Tortoises And Cannabis Found In Luggage From Mauritius
The alleged smuggler of turtles and also drugs dealer is still wanted by the Malaysian police. He had embarked last week on an Air Mauritius for the destination of the Kuala Lumpur airport, in Malaysia. The luggage was dispatched from Madagascar. Air Mauritius has confirmed the news and claims to be in direct communication with the Malaysian authorities. "The passenger was in transit in Mauritius before boarding the flight to Kuala Lumpur. All baggage was inspected by the airport authorities - screening for prohibited items which might interfering the flight safety. These elements have no impact on the safety of the flight itself. We are in touch with the Malaysian police," said Donald Payne, Executive Vice-President (Sales & Communications), Air Mauritius.
Thus, the baggage of the alleged smuggler and also the importing of drugs were passed unfiltered through X-ray security in Mauritius and Madagascar before being placed in the baggage compartment. But the system did not detect anomalies that disrupt the flight. "These are prohibited items in other perspectives," said Donald Payen.
The baggage was searched and anomalies discovered only after arriving in Kuala Lumpur. "The bags were suspicious, we felt there was something moving inside," said a customs investigators brigade anti-smuggling of Kuala Lumpur. By opening the bags, the customs officers found 300 turtles from Madagascar, and two kilos of cannabis.
According to the Malaysian authorities, the bags were left by a passenger who arrived on a flight from Mauritius. The passenger fled on seeing that the customs were inspecting his luggage. It is, moreover, still wanted by the police.
Misliah Mohamed Basir, a Malaysian senior official said that the turtles will be returned to Madagascar. "These turtles are highly coveted by collectors and sold abroad as pets or as food products," he told the Malaysian press.
