REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- The rampant trade in sea turtle eggs in Padang, West Sumatra, disrupts the natural ecosystem and sustainable exploitation of sea resources.

"Although some cases did go to trial, the sea turtle eggs trade is still rampant in West Sumatra. We expect that the local police will help us in ending this practice," Head of Marine and Coastal Resource Development Office of Padang, R Andry Indraysworo Sukmoputro, said here on Wednesday.

The authority suspected that the poached eggs did not come just from West Sumatra, but also from neighboring Kalimantan.

"Trade in sea turtle eggs is carried out differently, using payment on demand method," Sukmoputro said, adding that it makes it difficult to trace the suppliers.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Special Crime Investigation Unit (Reskrimsus) of West Sumatra Police Office, Adjunct Senior Commisioner Hengki, said four regions in West Sumatra have been identified as being prone to illegal trade in sea turtle eggs, namely Padang District, Pesisir Selatan, Pariaman, and West Pasaman.

Previously, Police of West Sumatra arrested four people suspected of selling poached sea turtle eggs in Berok Nipah Village, Padang city.

"We arrested the four suspects on Monday (Jan 18) at 01.00 p.m. at kiosks along the road across from the Class II A Muaro Padang Penitentiary," Deputy Director of Special Crime Investigation (Reskrimsus) of West Sumatra Police Office, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Hengki, said.

Officers confiscated 362 sea turtle eggs believed to have been poached from green sea and hawksbill sea turtles.

The police are still investigating to determine the identity of the supplier of the sea turtle eggs.

The arrest was expected to deter other traders. The sea turtle eggs are sold freely along the coast of Padang, such as in Muaro Beach.

Sea turtles are a legally protected species in Indonesia, as they are categorized as endangered species.

The suspects, if convicted, face five year imprisonment for selling sea turtle eggs and disrupting the natural ecosystem.

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