Shellfish smuggling attempt foiled

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The Hasanuddin Fish Quarantine Center here foiled an attempt to smuggle 26 rare giant shellfish out of Indonesia through Denpasar, Bali.

The smuggling attempt was uncovered by officials of the quarantine center at the Hasanuddin airport here on Saturday.

"The biggest of the 26 giant shellfish was 9.3 cm in length and 300 grams in weight, while the smallest one was 2.5 cm in length and weighed 25 grams. All are still alive," head of the quarantine center M. Siri Syamsuddin told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.

The giant shellfish, which were classified as an endangered species in 1997, can be found on small islands near Makassar, mainly Barang Lompo and Barang Caddi.

The species is protected under Decree No.12/KPTS-II/87 of the forestry ministry.

Saturday's smuggling attempt was the third uncovered by quarantine center this year. In the previous two cases, the smuggling attempt involved kepiting kelapa (coconut crabs) and Napoleon fish.

Siri Syamsuddin promised to entrust the questioning over the smuggling attempt to both the police and the natural resources conservation center. (27/sdt)