Both animals are popular pets in Malaysia but it is illegal to bring them into the country without the correct permits. If found guilty of breaking wildlife protection laws, the trio -- who were arrested Thursday -- could be jailed for up to 10 years, said Syed Basri. Kanitha Krishnasamy, acting regional director for wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic, told AFP the discovery could help investigators probing pet smuggling. "This case could potentially uncover connections to the exotic pet trade that appears to be booming in Malaysia," she said. Bearded dragons -- which take their name from the scales under their head that resemble a beard -- are popular pets due to their hardy and tame nature.

Source: The Nation Bangkok July 10, 2017 09:33 UTC