RI seamen smuggle wildlife

RI seamen smuggle wildlife

SINGAPORE: Two Indonesians have been charged with smuggling in Singapore after thousands of dollars worth of endangered parrots and turtles eggs were found on their fishing boat, a report said Sunday.

Customs officers were acting on a tip off when they raided the boat at Singapore's Jurong fishing port, the Sunday Times said.

Officials found 26 parrots, some of them endangered species, packed in a cage hidden underneath a hatch in the vessel.

The birds were estimated to be worth 8,000 Singapore (US$4,500).

Thousands of turtles eggs, worth $4,000 and destined for local restaurants, were found beneath layers of fresh fish in fiberglass boxes.

If found guilty of smuggling in wildlife protected areas the two men, Tang Eng Jong, 60, and Tjoeng Tiam Loy, 40, face a maximum $5,000 fine and a year in jail.

An Indian national recently received the maximum fine and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for importing more than 1,800 endangered star tortoises into Singapore.

He was also ordered to pay $10,820 towards the care and repatriation of the creatures. -- AFP