Anti-smuggling enforcement officers discovered the 294 pangolins worth about 17,640 ringgit (4,642 dollars) in a lorry bound for Thailand in a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, said enforcement officer Rooslan Radzi.

A 37-year-old lorry-driver was arrested, Rooslan was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

He added that the man had attempted to conceal the pangolins nestled in 43 baskets in his lorry by piling baskets of fruit and vegetables on top.

The animals would have been sold for their meat as they were in high demand in neighbouring countries, he said.

Under Malaysian laws, the man could be fined up to 3,000 ringgit or jailed for three years or both, Rooslan said.

Wildlife Department officials say the scaly anteaters can fetch around 50 ringgit (around 13 dollars) per kilogramme (2.2 pounds) in Malaysia, with each animal weighing between eight to 13 kilos.

Found in Asia and Africa, pangolins are considered a delicacy in China and other countries, and are prized for their use in traditional medicine.

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