Bali Police foil attempt at smuggling 38 green sea turtles

The Bali Marine Police on Monday confiscated 38 endangered green sea turtles smuggled from the East Java island of Madura onto the resort island.

Officers arrested two suspects caught transporting the turtles in a truck on their way from Karangasem regency to Denpasar.

Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar Dwi Putra told reporters the two suspects were arrested on Jl. Raya Candidasa in Karangasem regency at around 4:30 a.m. on Monday.

The suspects are Abdul Kadir, 45, a fisherman from Sumenep, Madura, and I Ketut Laba, 42, a driver from Tejakula, Buleleng regency, Bali.

Sugianyar said the police were informed that a boat carrying turtles from Madura was leaving for Karangasem, Bali. Following up on the tip-off, marine police officers patrolled Kubu waters, searching small seaports throughout the eastern regency of Bali.

“Our officers were then informed that the boat had docked and the turtles were seen being moved into a yellow truck.”

“After chasing the truck, they [the police] stopped it on Jl. Raya Candidasa and found the turtles inside,” he said, adding that five of the turtles had died.

The suspects and the evidence were then brought to the Marine Police headquarters in Benoa. Both suspects said they knew nothing about the turtles, but also said they had been ordered to bring the animals to Denpasar, the police said.

The police said it was likely the turtles were to be sold for their meat, Sugianyar said.

“We are still investigating whether the turtles would be sold to a fence.”

The suspects could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a Rp 100 million fine each for violating the 1990 Law on Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem.

Bali is a hot spot for animal smuggling, especially turtles. The island has become a lucrative black market for turtles, which are mostly shipped from Sulawesi, East and West Nusa Tenggara and East Java.

A growing demand for the animal’s meat, which is sold at around Rp 50,000 to Rp 80,000 per kilogram on the black market, is the main driver behind the increase in smuggling.

Despite an ongoing campaign organized by several turtle conservation movements, turtle meat is still a permanent fixture in traditional feasts, particularly in communities on the southern end of the island.

Natives of the predominantly Hindu island also use turtle meat in religious ceremonies, although this is rarer, Sugianyar said.

He called on Bali residents to help stop turtle smuggling by not consuming the animal’s meat.

“The illicit trade will continue due to the growing demand. We expect people to participate in eliminating this illicit trade by stopping the consumption.”

The confiscated turtles were released into the sea on Matahari Terbit beach in Sanur on the same day.

The green sea turtle is given the highest level of endangered species by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

Trade of the animal is illegal.