A 51-year-old Indonesian man was arrested during a raid in Kunak, Sabah. Officers from the 22nd Battalion General Operations Force and the Sabah Veterinary Services Department hit an unnumbered house in Kampung Sungai Atas at 9:15 a.m.
The suspect admitted he’d been running cockfighting operations since 1992. He owned all 81 birds seized during the raid. Authorities valued the fighting cocks at RM290,858 (US$62,000).
The man has been turned over to the Veterinary Services Department. He faces charges under Section 15(1) of the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015.
Why This Bust Matters for Regional Enforcement
The fighting cocks were being sold to gambling rings across Sabah’s east and west coasts. Each bird fetched between RM3,000 and RM5,000. That’s serious money flowing through underground networks.
The raid was part of Op Manok, an integrated enforcement action targeting illegal animal trade. Intelligence suggested the birds were stored without proper licenses. Officers found medicines believed to boost the birds’ fighting performance, allegedly imported from Thailand and the Philippines without approval.
Cockfighting gambling operations have long connections to smuggling networks and organised crime. The trade involves animal cruelty concerns and cross-border trafficking.
What Officers Found at the Site
The raid uncovered more than just birds. Officers discovered cages and metal enclosures set up for housing fighting cocks. Veterinary medicines were found on the premises.
Authorities believe the birds arrived through illegal land routes into Sabah. The suspect operated the facility without valid licences from the Veterinary Services Department. All seized items and animals have been handed over for further action.
The suspect’s 32-year involvement in the business suggests a well-established operation. His admission of ownership made the investigation straightforward.
How Sabah Plans to Crack Down
The Kunak GOF said it’ll increase surveillance across the region. Authorities want to disrupt smuggling networks feeding illegal gambling operations.
The task force approach between military and veterinary officials worked well here. Expect more coordinated raids between agencies going forward. Officials pledged stricter enforcement against wildlife trade and cross-border smuggling.
The seizure shows how cockfighting connects to broader criminal enterprises. It’s not just about the birds. These operations fund illegal gambling networks and involve smuggling across borders.
Authorities haven’t disclosed whether they’re investigating buyers on the east and west coasts. But the admission that birds were sold to gambling operations suggests more arrests could follow.
