The authorities were also urged to seize any assets derived from the illicit trade.

Teo, 58, who was extradited from Thailand last year, was convicted by a New York court in September of conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking and sentenced to 18 months’ jail. He was alleged to be a member of a transnational criminal conspiracy engaged in the large-scale trafficking and smuggling of rhinoceros horns.

Wildlife activist Damien Thanam Divean, president of Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam, said Malaysian authorities should investigate and prosecute Teo, despite apparently having cleared him previously.

Any of Teo’s assets obtained through his illegal wildlife trade should be seized, he said.

“Teo’s network of wildlife traffickers remains active and requires neutralisation. Organised crime syndicates from North East Asia have historically used Malaysia as a transit point for smuggling illicit wildlife goods from Africa to Asia and beyond,” Damien told FMT.

Elizabeth John, communications manager at Traffic, an international wildlife trade monitoring network, said there was uncertainty about subsequent investigations into those involved in the network, in Malaysia and abroad.

“But such follow-ups are vital to ensure that these arrests and convictions genuinely disrupt these trafficking operations,” she said.

She called for stronger penalties for wildlife crimes and for greater international collaboration to combat such activities.