Two Plead Guilty to Smuggling Wildlife Charges

Two men were in Portland Federal Court Wednesday, pleading guilty to charges they conspired to smuggle orangutan skulls and other protected species into Oregon.

Eoin Ling Churn Yeng, 35, and Galvin Yeo Siang Ann, 33, both Malaysian citizens, were both sentenced to six months in prison, fined $25,000 each, and each sentenced to 240 hours of community service.

The investigation began three years ago when the search of a package from overseas revealed the mandible if a helmeted hornbill, a protected species.

Prosecutors say that Ling and Yeo were co-owners of an online business that has smuggled approximately $95,000 worth of endangered wildlife into the U.S. since 2004.

"I commend all the agencies that played a role in this successful investigation and prosecution," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Chief Edward Grace.

"Orangutans are one of the rarest great ape species on Earth, and the desire to possess a skull from one as tourist art or trophy in someone's collection will not be tolerated. The Service will continue to fully investigate and bring to justice those individuals who continue to perpetrate criminal acts involving orangutans and other protected wildlife species.'