He said all of them, aged between 33 and 47, were detained on suspicion of possessing an animal species that is protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

“I cannot comment further. However, I confirm that we have received the report about the arrests made by Perhilitan.

“I would like to advise not only to the public but also all police personnel in the state against capturing, shooting and hunting protected animals as it would violate the Act,” he told reporters after observing a roadblock at the Seremban-Labu toll plaza (northbound) at the North-South Expressway (PLUS) here today.

He was commenting on a report on the arrests of the eight police personnel which had been widely circulated on social media recently.

According to the report, the eight were nabbed in Kuala Pilah on Jan 17 after an inspection by Perhilitan officers of the vehicle they were travelling in revealed a plastic bag containing an animal, believed to be a lesser mouse deer.

The case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

In another development, Mohamad said 20 roadblocks would be mounted throughout the state, involving the deployment of 328 personnel, following the implementation of the movement control order, beginning this Friday.