Marine police arrest man, seized turtle parts mark for exotic food buyers
Marine Police have seized 25 turtle marginal scutes (turtle carapace) and 13 plastrons (turtle chest) in Kampung Bangau-Bangau here, yesterday. - Picture courtesy of Semporna Marine Police
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The police have also arrested a 31-year-old man, believed to have been involved in activities to owning the aforementioned materials, during a raid at 10 am yesterday.
Semporna marine police operations commander Deputy Supt Mohammad Ismail said the seizure and arrest were made following a public tip-off.
"When inspections were carried out on a boat in the kampung, we have found several turtle organs that have been cut off.
"We believed that the turtle organs will be sold in the black market to cater for people looking to eat exotic foods,'' he said in a statement today.
Mohamad added that the arrested individual, as well as the seized items, will be brought to the Semporna Marine Police base for further action.
"The case is being referred to the Sabah Wildlife Department and will be investigated under Section 41 (1) of the wildlife conservation Act 1997 for possessing wild animal product without a proper permit,'' he said.
