Pacific

Turtle meat arrests in French Polynesia

06:09 am on 21 November 2014

Police in French Polynesia have detained two men after discovering more than 90 kilogrammes of turtle meat in their possession.

The seizure was made during a search in the port of Papeete, where a protected spieces of turtle was found that was frozen.

One of the suspects has also been found to have had traces of a banned drug which prompted a search of his home.

An official says turtle meat is sold on the black market for more than 50 US dollars a kilo.

Two years ago, two men and a woman were given a suspended six-month prison sentence for dealing illegally in turtle meat.