Malaysian authorities have confirmed that an elusive wildlife trader in Malaysia who recently caught the attention of global investigative outlet Bellingcat was nabbed and fined two years ago for illegally trading animals.

The police’s Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation and Intelligence Unit (WCB) said the trader, Ridzuan Norizan, was arrested by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) in March 2023 for illegally selling otters, a protected species.