200 rare turtles die on smugglers' boat heading from Malaysia to Vietnam

By VnExpress   December 8, 2016 | 01:59 am PT
A total of 1,400 turtles were destined for 'exotic' dining tables in Vietnam.

Maritime officials in Malaysia seized 1,400 turtles from a local fishing vessel on Wednesday which was en route to sell them as food in Vietnam, but it was already too late for 200 of the endangered animals.

The turtles are a protected species in Malaysia.

They were to be sold in Vietnam for around $9,500 and marketed as an “exotic dish”, officials from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said, as cited by the New Straits Times.

Six people on the boat, aged between 23 and 44 years old, have been detained for questioning under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment.

Two of them are Malaysians while the others failed to produce identification papers.

Related news:

Vietnamese man charged for killing 4,000 rare turtles for souvenir business

Vietnam seizes rare turtles from Cambodian bus

 
go to top