30-9-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) In a major operation, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) intercepted two trawlers off the northern coast of Sabah’s Kudat district, revealing a haul of dried turtles, shark fins, and exotic marine life valued at around RM1.5 million. The vessels were also found to be transporting seahorses and puffer fish. The interception took place approximately 58 nautical miles west of Simpang Mengayau at 12:35 PM on Wednesday.
Commander Maurice Grenville Abeyeratne, the director of Kudat MMEA, disclosed that patrol boats from their zone and Labuan were able to locate the trawlers based on intelligence provided by their units. The first boat, manned by two Filipinos and an Indonesian aged between 37 and 52, was found to be carrying 39 sacks and 14 boxes filled with dried turtles weighing approximately 865kg. The authorities also discovered a sack containing dried shark fins, 35 sacks of puffer fish weighing 630kg, 76 sacks of dried clams weighing 1,368kg, around 30kg of sea molluscs, a sack of seahorses weighing 6kg, and six boxes containing 150 frozen humphead wrasse fish.
The second trawler was manned by two local men aged 50 and 57, as well as a 45-year-old Filipino. It was found to be carrying 2,100kg of dried clams and 375kg of puffer fish.
All suspects, boats, and seized items were brought to the Kudat MMEA jetty for further action. The case is currently being investigated under several laws, including the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008, Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, and Fisheries Act 1985. The suspects are also being probed under the Customs Act 1967, Immigration Act 1959/1963, and the state’s Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002.
