Navy intercepts turtle shipment

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: A Navy vessel has intercepted a boat carrying 230 green turtles from Tanimbar, South East Maluku, to the port of Benoa in Bali, Antara reported on Tuesday.

Col. Pramono Hadi, chief of the Mataram Naval Base, said the Wijijaya I ship, registered to Bali businessman Wiji Zakaria, was stopped near the Gili Trawangan islands.

The ship and its crew had been sent to Mataram's Lembar Port for further investigation, Pramono said.

The ship's captain, Wayan Sukastana, said he was not aware of any regulation against turtle trading and insisted that he had the permission of the fishing agency in Tual, Maluku.

Some of the turtles had died by the time the Navy had intercepted the boat. (04)