TAWAU: Wildlife enforcement officers from Malaysia and Indonesia recently completed a five-day joint training programme in Sabah aimed at strengthening cross-border investigations into wildlife trafficking.
The Transboundary Wildlife Trafficking Investigations Training brought together frontline enforcement personnel from Sabah and Indonesia’s North Kalimantan to improve cooperation against trafficking syndicates operating across Borneo.
Organised by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and managed by the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), the programme was supported by WWF Malaysia and WWF Indonesia under the Sabah’s Harmonised Intelligence, Enforcement and Legal Defence Against Wildlife Crimes (SHIELD) programme, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
Over five days, participants received training in controlled delivery operations, covert surveillance, technical tracking, tactical search procedures, crime scene management, informant handling and intelligence gathering. The programme concluded with a full-day simulation requiring officers from both countries to establish a joint cross-border command post, coordinate investigations, apprehend suspects, manage evidence and prepare investigation reports that meet bilateral evidentiary standards.
DGFC SHIELD Project Coordinator Dr Milena Salgado-Lynn said organised wildlife trafficking syndicates continue to exploit the extensive land and maritime border between Sabah and Kalimantan to smuggle protected wildlife into lucrative illegal markets.
“Key targets include protected species such as pangolins, Bornean elephants, sun bears and sea turtles. Cross-border cooperation between Malaysian and Indonesian law enforcement agencies is therefore essential to identify, disrupt and dismantle the criminal groups operating between the two countries,” she said.
The training was designed to strengthen coordination between enforcement agencies by improving intelligence sharing, harmonising investigative approaches and establishing closer working relationships for future joint operations.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Sabah Wildlife Department Director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, who commended participating agencies and officers for their commitment to protecting the region’s biodiversity.
“This collaborative effort serves as a critical foundation for protecting our region’s irreplaceable biodiversity heritage from the severe threats posed by international organised criminal syndicates,” he said.
He added that continued cooperation and mutual trust between Malaysia and Indonesia would strengthen efforts to combat cross-border wildlife trafficking and safeguard the island’s shared biodiversity.
