A Vietnamese man has pleaded guilty in a Malaysian court to possessing protected wildlife parts without a licence. Hoang Van Thai, 39, was charged with holding 1,022 gallbladders and 191 tongue parts from the reticulated python, a protected species, at a property in southern Johor state.
The items were discovered during a raid on April 4 by Malaysia's Wildlife Department, which estimated the haul's value at nearly 37 million ringgit ($9.3 million). The seizure included python gallbladders and other parts, bear bile, suspected tiger parts, primate remains and reproductive organs believed to be linked to the illegal international wildlife trade.
Malaysia is a major hub for the illegal wildlife trade, serving as both a source and transit point for trafficked species, driven by demand for exotic animals and their parts. Python bile, contained in the gallbladder, is believed by some to have medicinal properties, while the tongue is used in traditional rituals or as an aphrodisiac.
Defence lawyer Mohamad Fazaly Ali Mohamad Ghazaly disputed the wildlife department's valuation in court, citing a lack of supporting documentation. He said Hoang came to Malaysia in November and worked as a driver, while his two children were studying in the country.
Hoang faces up to three years in jail, a fine or both. The court will verify his immigration status on April 20 before ruling on bail. Prosecutors objected to bail, arguing the large quantity of seized items suggested organised activity.
Johor Malaysia Nature Society adviser Vincent Chow told The Star newspaper that Hoang may have acted as a stockist for a larger syndicate. “Most of the wildlife parts seized have already been processed and some were even packed, likely waiting to be shipped out either to the local or international market,” he said.
