The arrests, under “Ops Khazanah” (Operation Heritage), followed a tip-off and a meeting with Sabah wildlife officers earlier.

Tawau police chief Peter Umbuas said police expect to recover the tusks sawn off from the elephant.

“We believe the case is solved with the arrest of the six,” he told reporters at the Tawau police headquarters.

The first suspect was detained at Felda Umas 4 at 12.20am.

“Subsequently, our team hauled in three other men in the same area. They are detained for poaching as well as for being in possession of bakakuks (homemade firearms),” Umbuas said.

The remaining suspects were picked up this afternoon.

The men were aged between 48 and 68. Only one is a local while the rest are foreigners.

The carcass of the bull was found tied to a tree on a riverbank by a group of anglers at Sungai Udin, Dumpas in Kalabakan, near Tawau, last Wednesday.

A post-mortem on the bull elephant, believed to be in its 30s, was found riddled with 70 bullets, believed to be fired at close range.

The tusks had also been removed.

Umbuas said two of the suspects were employed to look after plantations in the area, adding the killing took place near a river.

“They were guarding the plantations and killed the elephant for its tusks,” he said.

To a question, he said police were unable to confirm whether their employers had instructed to shoot and kill the elephant to protect the plantations.

“We have seized a valid licence to own firearms and live bullets.

“The suspects are being investigated for owning illegal firearms as well as Section 25(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment for hunting without a licence from the Sabah Wildlife Department,” he said.

If convicted, the men face five years behind bars and a fine of RM250,000, he added.

“One of the suspects claimed they did not shoot the animal 70 times but admitted firing repeatedly,” he said.

Umbuas said the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) was involved in the preliminary discussions after the death of the elephant. The NGO voiced concern that the authorities were unable to stop the killing of wildlife, especially elephants, in Sabah.

He also thanked the public for the tip-off that led to the arrests.

“Those who provided the vital information seemed to genuinely want the killers to be brought to justice and not just for the RM30,000 reward.”