Authorities find sacks of green turtle carcasses off Bum Bum island during special ops

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 11 carcasses and cooked meat of the protected green turtles were found in sacks off Bum-Bum island in the Semporna district on Saturday (Oct 2) morning.

Sabah General Operations Force (PGA) Brigade Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rani Alias said the carcasses were discovered during the integrated Op Khazanah at 6am.

"Apart from the carcasses, a hook believed to be used to catch turtles was seized as well," he said in a statement.

To add to that, they confiscated two sacks containing cooked turtles and cooking utensils, too.

Abdul Rani said unfortunately, no suspects were nabbed after a search around the location.

The seized items including the cooking utensils estimated to be around RM8,200 were taken to the Semporna district police headquarters for further action.

"Investigations are being carried out under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997," he said.

The operation was jointly held with the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Forestry Department.

Discovery of sea turtle carcasses especially in Semporna had been reported numerous times, with one of the largest findings of at least 100 carcasses recorded in 2017.

Nomadic fishermen were believed to be among the main culprits eating these protected species.