Malaysia arrests 6 ‘Ninja Turtle Gang’ members, seizes tortoises smuggled into the country
- This is the second time in a week, that Malaysian authorities seized hundreds of smuggled tortoises and turtles
Malaysian authorities have arrested six members of an international crime ring known as the “Ninja Turtle Gang” and seized about 200 smuggled tortoises and turtles, a wildlife official said on Tuesday.
Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, director general of Malaysia’s wildlife and national parks department, said four Cambodians and two Malaysians were arrested during a July 2 raid on a house in Kuala Lumpur by police and wildlife officials.
He said some 200 turtles and tortoises worth an estimated 246,394 ringgit (US$52,000) were rescued during the raid, the second seizure in Malaysia in less than a week.
Many people across Asia believe that turtles and tortoises bring good luck and prosperity.
Abdul Kadir said the six arrested belong to the Ninja Turtle Gang, an international crime ring involved in smuggling the reptiles.
Police and wildlife officials rescued 400 tortoises during an initial raid on June 29 that were meant for sale in Southeast Asia and were worth US$805,000 on the black market.
