After thwarting a smuggling attempt of 15 tons of fish, the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP), together with Marine Resources and Fisheries Monitoring Post (PSDKP) of Timika and Timika Resort Police has thwarted another smuggling attempt of pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelys insculpta).
“We have secured 3,230 pig-nosed turtles packed in 190 plastic boxes from smuggling attempt,” said Asep Supriyadi, head of Tual PSDKP Station, in a written statement, Wednesday, February 17, 2016.
Officials of Fish Quarantine, Quality Control and Fisheries Security Center (BKIPM) and security forces of Timika Mosek Kilangin Airport have found evidence of four black luggages used to carry the plastic boxes containing the turtles.
Their modus operandi is by sending the luggages through old airport entrance which has no X-ray devices. The turtles was planned to be sent using Sriwijaya Air to Jayapura before heading to Jakarta.
Currently, the evidence found by officials has been handed over to the Bioderversity and Environmental Dept. of PT Freeport to be taken care of before being released to the wildlife.
Pig-nosed turtule is protected and prohibited from being captured. The turtule is an endemic and endangered species which only live in Papua. The turtle is also listed in Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). TEMPO