KOTA KINABALU: A restaurant owner is in trouble for allegedly selling various types of exotic meat.

The owner who operates on Jalan Bulbul in Semporna was nabbed on Nov 12 following a tip-off.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said the raid was a continuation of their operations to hunt for turtle poachers in Semporna.

"During the raid, our officials found the meat of various protected species kept in freezers at the restaurant," he said in a statement late Tuesday.

"The meats are suspected to be from bearded pig, flying fox, civet and pangolin," he added.

Inspection around the premises also found two live monitor lizards and two live reticulated pythons, also protected species, being kept in cages.

The restaurant owner is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

On Nov 13, wildlife rangers also caught three people allegedly possessing deer meat without a license in their vehicle.

"A lorry driver and his passenger, aged 60 and 61, were caught during a roadblock along the Tawau-Kalabakan road," Tuuga said.

The third person detained was travelling the same route in a 4WD.

All three will be investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.