An official said the establishment’s action tarnished Sabah’s image as a responsible, sustainable nature tourism destination
In an integrated crackdown dubbed “Ops Khazanah” on Monday, Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) officials, together with the police, raided a resort in Semporna district after getting information that the operators were storing and serving the protected species.
“During the raid, a live pangolin as well as several pots containing cooked pangolin in herbal soup were found,” SWD director Soffian Abu Bakar said in a statement on Tuesday.
Three individuals were also arrested to facilitate investigations under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, he said.
As a species listed as totally protected in Sabah, no one is allowed to possess, keep, sell or serve this animal as a meal in any way in the state, he said.
Those found guilty can be fined between 50,000 ringgit (US$12,840) and 250,000 ringgit and jailed at least one to five years, he said.
