MMEA saves 3,300 baby turtles from the pot

A file picture of a pig-nosed turtle on display in an aquarium at the KL Butterfly Park.

BATU PAHAT: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has saved 3,300 pig-nosed baby turtles worth more than RM100,000 which were headed for the cooking pot.

 

MMEA Batu Pahat director Mohammad Othman said the MMEA had also arrested two men aged 40 and 51, adding that the duo are believed to be repeat offenders.

 

"Our team conducted an inspection on a boat anchored at Tanjung Tohor at about 12.30am on Wednesday (Feb 27) and found seven styrofoam boxes containing the baby turtles.

 

"The turtles were brought over from Indonesia and it is believed they were headed to the local market to be sold as exotic food," he said in a statement here on Wednesday (Feb 27).

 

The operation was conducted with General Operations Force (GOF) Battalion 6, with the total seizure valued at RM150,000, including the boat seized by MMEA.

 

The case was handed over to the Johor State Forestry Department for further investigation.