Anson Wong, who has earned the nickname of "Lizard King" for smuggling wildlife, in particular reptiles, was detained by police at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Thursday night.

Wong, reportedly in his 50s, was nabbed after airline staff were alerted to a piece of broken luggage that was found to contain live snakes of various species.

Wong was in transit from Malaysia's northern state of Penang to Jakarta when he was detained, the Star and New Straits Times newspapers reported, quoting unidentified sources.

"He was picked up by Malaysia Airlines security staff on Thursday night," police chief of central Selangor state, Khalid Abu Bakar, told AFP.

"He is under police lock-up now. The case is being investigated by the Wildlife and National Parks Department," the official said, adding that he had no other details on the case.

The department's top officials declined comment when contacted by AFP.

Wong will be held until next Tuesday for further investigation, reports said.

Described by wildlife groups as one of the world's most-wanted smugglers of wild animals, Wong was reportedly sentenced to 71 months in jail in the United States in 2001 after he pleaded guilty to trafficking charges.

Despite efforts by Southeast Asian authorities to crack down on animal smuggling, the practice still persists in the region, posing a threat to several species, activists say.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Related Links
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Celebrating and commemorating, New Orleans remembers Katrina Pakistan on 'war footing' to save city Chile, NASA in talks to rescue miners Jazz breathes life back into New Orleans after Katrina Canadian PM Announces Support For Next Gen Of Satellites First Successful Corona Remote Sensing Satellite Marks 50 Year Anniversary Apple expected to update iPod line at Sept. 1 event Japan develops 'touchable' 3D TV technology Lula's parting gift is a controversial dam After decades, Estonians could regain seal hunting rights EU overfishing charges 'preposterous': Iceland Japan high-tech toilet makers flush with success Why Fish Don't Freeze In The Arctic Ocean Receding ice could unlock arctic trove Is The Ice In The Arctic Ocean Getting Thinner And Thinner Resolving The Paradox Of The Antarctic Sea Ice Malaysia mulls landmark trial of GM anti-dengue mosquitoes Plant Scientists Move Closer To Making Any Crop Drought-Tolerant Ancient Roman mill uncovered in U.K. Paraguay marks fragile farm-based recovery Thousands flee as Indonesia volcano erupts Antigua, Caribbean brace for Hurricane Earl Hurricane Danielle halts high-tech mapping of 'Titanic' Niger floods leave 200,000 homeless: UN S.Africa defends Chinese expansion in Africa S.Africa's Zuma in China for talks on growing ties Somali peacekeepers may boost troops South Africa's Zuma visits key partner China to boost ties The Mother Of All Humans Giant Chinese 'Michelin baby' startles doctors: reports Mother Of All Humans Lived 200,000 Years Ago Humans Trump Nature On Texas River