Turtle smuggling attempt foiled in Batam

Turtle smuggling attempt foiled in Batam

BATAM, Riau: A customs patrol boat seized a vessel and its crew who were allegedly attempting to smuggle 3,000 turtles to Singapore.

The shipment of protected turtles was intercepted on Saturday off the coast of Batam island in Riau province.

Batam Customs official Syaifullah Nasution said the ship KM Budidaya had been seized and its skipper and crew taken into custody for allegedly transporting the protected species without proper papers.

The turtle shipment was traced to Pontianak, West Kalimantan. "The turtles will possibly be sent back to their habitat after the case is settled," said Nasution. --Agencies