Bali Police foil turtle smuggling attempt

The Bali Police arrested three men who attempted to smuggle 18 green sea turtles at around 3 a.m. on Monday in the waters off Tanjung Benoa in Badung regency.

Bali Police coast guard director Sr. Com. Agus Soeta Supranggono said Monday that the turtles were taken from a small boat to a Toyota minivan.

The three men — identified as Gede Kole, Gusti Ngurah Datia and Nyoman Sugira — refused to comment on the operation, saying only that they were couriers and did not know where the turtles came from.

Another suspect, who police believe may have been the mastermind behind the smuggling scheme, managed to evade arrest by fleeing in his boat.

“When the police arrived at the site, the turtles were already on the beach and were ready to be transported,” Supranggono said.

The smuggling attempt was reported by officials working on a National Police patrol vessel, the Merpati. The ship had been operating in Bali waters to monitor security in the area. The officers said they noticed a small boat unloading unidentified goods.

“We presume these turtles were caught in Sulawesi and would be sold to restaurants here in Bali that serve turtle meat,” Supranggono said.

The three men, he said, would be charged with violating the 1990 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation Law and could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and fined Rp 100 million (US$11,700).

Supranggono speculated that the illegal trade in turtle species would continue to flourish in Bali as demand for turtle meat was very high despite strict laws and regulations.

In May, the Bali Police confiscated 150 kilograms of turtle meat sent from Kangean Island in Madura.

Apart from turtles, numerous endangered species, including primates, reptiles and birds, continue to be sold in Bali.

Rosek Nursahid, the chairman of conservation NGO ProFauna, said Bali was a hotbed for animal trafficking and poor enforcement at ports meant the trade was relatively unhindered.

Balinese formerly consumed turtle meat both in meals and in religious offerings. But as turtle populations diminished, especially rare species such as green sea turtles, the provincial administration issued a decree prohibiting people from consuming turtle meat.

Turtle meat can be used only in offerings at major Hindu festivals under the strict supervision of religious leaders.

Supranggono said some of the rescued turtles were released at Kuta while others were taken to the Turtle Conservation Center on Serangan Island.

“We are keeping two turtles as evidence,” he said, adding that police would continue investigations and arrest other suspects.

Ni Komang Erviani, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Tue, 07/05/2011 7:00 AM