The Johor Fisheries Department in Malaysia seized 38 sacks of cockle spats worth about RM25,000 during a raid at a private jetty in Kampung Sungai Koris in Senggarang near here last Wednesday.
However, four men who were scooping the spats into the sacks fled into a nearby mangrove forest when the authorities arrived at the jetty area about 11am.
It is learnt that the cockle spats were illegally harvested in the district’s waters and were to be smuggled out to a neighbouring country where they would fetch a higher price.
Johor Fisheries deputy officer (enforcement) Mohd Azhar Jusoh said the raid by five of the department’s enforcement personnel was from intelligence gathering about illegal activities in the area.
“The 38 sacks of cockle spats were left on the jetty and in a boat.”
The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Regulations (Cockles Conservation & Culture) 2002 and the Fisheries Act 1985. It is an offence to import or export cockle spats.
Azhar said the raid was the third successful one for the department this month.
2011 The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.