Singapore jails man for smuggling puppies, kittens from Malaysia after 19 die

A man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for smuggling 27 pets, some in laundry bags, from Malaysia to Singapore. Of the 27 animals, one puppy was found dead and 18 subsequently died from a canine disease. Gobysuwaran Paraman Sivan was sentenced for illegally importing pets without a licence and causing the animals unnecessary pain and suffering in the process, said Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks) in a media release on Monday. The 36-year-old Malaysian had smuggled 26 puppies and one cat in a lorry from Malaysia in October last year in what NParks described as “one of the most serious cases of animal smuggling to date”. Immigration officers at Tuas Checkpoint stopped a Malaysia-registered lorry on October 18 and found 27 animals hidden in various compartments of the lorry, according to NParks. Officers found some animals confined in laundry bags and stowed away in the vehicle’s overhead compartment. Other animals were packed behind the driver and passenger seats in plastic containers. One puppy was found dead on arrival, and laboratory tests detected the canine parvovirus in some of the remaining puppies. Eighteen subsequently died. Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious and relatively common cause of acute, infectious gastrointestinal illness in young, unvaccinated dogs. Branson says Singapore ‘may be about to kill innocent man’ over 1kg of drugs “Had these puppies gone into homes, canine parvovirus might have been spread to other dogs in the community,” NParks said. NParks also highlighted several other cases of animal smuggling that took place between October and lost month, with a total of 19 cases being detected by NParks and partner agencies. Among them was a shipment of 337 birds found in a lorry entering Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint in late March. The birds were smuggled in plastic boxes hidden behind the driver’s seat. “Within five days of the seizure, 91 out of 97 birds from one of the smuggled species died, likely due to stress from the smuggling process,” said NParks. In another case, also at Tuas Checkpoint, 11 puppies and one kitten were found sedated and hidden inside a vehicle. Three puppies and a kitten were kept underneath the rear passenger seat and the other eight puppies were packed in the spare tyre compartment in the boot of the car, which itself had been modified to house two layers of puppies. NParks also carried out a raid of the residential units of eight individuals who had advertised wildlife species for sale on messaging app Telegram in September, it said. The units were located across Singapore, including at Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Choa Chu Kang, Marsiling, Punggol, Serangoon and Tampines. More than 50 wildlife specimens were seized, ranging from species such as scorpions, tarantulas, green iguanas and bearded dragons. In November, NParks raided a farm in Lim Chu Kang and seized 70 wildlife specimens, including several species which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), such as the Leopard Tortoise, Argentine Black and White Tegu and Veiled Chameleon. In August, NParks also investigated a case of unlicensed breeding and sale of Ragdoll cats. The individuals involved had bred their imported Ragdoll cats at their personal residences and advertised the kittens for sale online. Singapore sees surge in abandoned pets as inflation drives up costs of care “To safeguard animal health and welfare, only licensed premises such as pet shops are allowed to sell cats,” said NParks. The government takes a zero-tolerance stance on the illegal trade and import of pet animals and wildlife, said NParks. Under the Animals and Birds Act, first-time offenders caught importing any animal or bird without a licence may be fined up to S$10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both. The Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, which regulates trade in wildlife species protected under CITES, was also amended in 2022 to include stiffer penalties for illegal wildlife trade. This article as first published on CNA

Singapore jails man for smuggling puppies, kittens from Malaysia after 19 die

The 36-year-old Malaysian tried to transport 26 puppies and a cat in what officials called ‘one of the most serious cases of animal smuggling to date’ Some animals were stowed away in laundry bags in the lorry’s overhead compartment. Others were packed behind the seats in plastic containers

The 36-year-old Malaysian tried to transport 26 puppies and a cat in what officials called ‘one of the most serious cases of animal smuggling to date’

Some animals were stowed away in laundry bags in the lorry’s overhead compartment. Others were packed behind the seats in plastic containers