On 26 April 2003 at about 0645 hours, a check was conducted on a wooden boat "Bumi Jaya" berthed at Pasir Panjang Wharf. During the check, a metal cage with 35 parrots were found. The cage was wrapped with a cardboard box, hidden in the fore peak cargo hatch of the wooden boat. The 35 parrots found are endangered species consisting of 27 Black-capped Lory, four Moluccan Cockatoo, two Eclectus Parrot and two Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.

2 The illegally smuggled birds were handed over to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigation. A 28 year-old male Indonesian crew and the captain of the boat, a 23 year-old male Indonesian, will be charged for the illegal import of endangered parrots under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act. The parrots that are estimated to be valued at about $10,000/- are currently under the care of the Jurong Bird Park.

3 The parrots require CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora) permit for import under the Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act. Offenders in violation of this Act can be fined up to $5,000 ($10,000 for repeat offences) and/or face a jail term of up to one year.

4 Stepped-up security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints will continue to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. ICA would like to advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.

END OF NEWS RELEASE

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
28 Apr 2003