KOTA KINABALU: Two trawlers were intercepted carrying over five tonnes of dried turtles and shark fins and other marine animals estimated to be worth RM1.5mil off Sabah’s northern Kudat district.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) intercepted the vessels, which were also transporting seahorses and puffer fish, about 58 nautical miles (107.4km) west of Simpang Mengayau at 12.35pm on Wednesday (Sept 27).
Kudat MMEA director Commander Maurice Grenville Abeyeratne said patrol boats from their zone as well as Labuan spotted the trawlers following information from their intelligence unit.
He said the inspection of the first boat found that it was manned by three crew members, two Filipino and an Indonesian, aged between 37 and 52.
“A further check found that the boat was carrying 39 sacks and 14 boxes containing dried turtles that were estimated to weigh some 865kg as well as a sack containing dried shark fins,” he said on Friday (Sept 29).
He said they also found 35 sacks of puffer fish weighing some 630kg, 76 sacks of dried clams weighing some 1,368kg, about 30kg of sea molluscs, a sack of seahorses weighing 6kg and six boxes containing 150 frozen humphead wrasse.
“The other trawler was carrying 2,100kg of dried clams and 375kg of puffer fish,” Abeyeratne said, adding the boat was manned by two local men aged 50 and 57, and a 45-year-old Filipino.
He said they then brought the suspects, boats and seized items to the Kudat MMEA jetty for further action.
The case was being probed under the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008, the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and the Fisheries Act 1985, he said.
He added that the suspects were also being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, the Immigration Act 1959/1963 as well as the state’s Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002.
Abeyeratne urged the people to assist MMEA by reporting any suspicious or criminal activity at sea or in coastal areas by calling the Kudat operations centre at 088-611858.
The public may also contact the 24-hour MERS 999 hotline.
