SEMPORNA: Two men caught with turtle shells cut into strips were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in waters off here.
District MMEA chief Lieutenant Commander Amiludin Yenggah said the two men were caught in waters near Pulau Kerindingan at about 1.30am by a patrol team that was dispatched following a public tip-off.
“Items used to catch turtles were also recovered from the two that did not have any documents when the suspected poachers were caught in a wooden boat,” he said in a statement.
The high demand from exotic food diners have spiked turtle hunting activity, he said adding the agency is committed in combating crimes related to wildlife.
‘The suspects will be detained further for investigations under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and Immigration Act 1959/63 for illegal possession of the endagered species and for having no valid documents,” Amiludin added.