DENPASAR — Authorities in Bali seized 21 live green sea turtles during a raid on the Pegametan coast on June 10. Police arrested a 67-year-old man, identified by the initials KS, in connection with ongoing investigations into illegal turtle trafficking.

Local residents reported suspected illegal turtle trading activity, which led to the raid. KS was charged under Indonesia's wildlife protection laws and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and monetary fines if convicted. Police suspect KS of storing protected turtles before distributing them for sale.

During initial questioning, the suspect stated that an associate sent the turtles from waters near Madura island in East Java province. He alleged that he received the animals on a beach to be collected by another individual for resale. Nanang Pri Hasmojo, head of law enforcement for the local police force, said, "We are continuing to investigate the case and pursuing other suspects involved in the network."

Sea turtle species in Indonesia have been legally protected under conservation and fisheries laws since 1990. A 2018 regulation from the Indonesian Environment Ministry clarified protections for six species of sea turtles within the country's waters, prohibiting their commercial trade. The International Union for Conservation of Nature reports that poaching of turtle eggs has pushed six of the world's seven sea turtle species into threatened categories.

Green turtles, scientifically classified as Chelonia mydas, accounted for 56 percent of documented sea turtle killings between 1990 and 2020. A 2022 study published in Global Change Biology by Arizona State University researchers estimated that over 1.1 million sea turtles were killed during the 1990-2020 period. The study attributed these killings primarily to demand for meat, alleged aphrodisiacs, and traditional or spiritual practices.

Balinese Hinduism is the predominant religion on the island of Bali, which has a population of approximately 4.5 million people. Historical inclusion of turtle meat in religious offerings previously made Bali a hub for green turtle trafficking.