KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 -- An Indonesian passenger was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) on Monday for allegedly attempting to smuggle five Asian koel birds in his check-in luggage.

The arrest follows increased enforcement efforts at the airport after a series of foreign wildlife smuggling busts involving passengers departing from Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement today, the Border Control and Protection Agency and the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) said the 47-year-old suspect was detained before he boarded AirAsia flight QZ321 to Surabaya, Indonesia.

The birds, which belong to the Cuculidae family, were found concealed inside five separate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes within his suitcase, the B...