Dominican Navy nabs 2 Chinese with protected sea turtle shells

Santo Domingo.- The Navy on Monday reported the arrest of two Chinese nationals, with four sacks filled with shells of sea turtles, a protected species in the Dominican Republic.

The men were apprehended Sunday at a military checkpoint in the village of Copei (northwest), Manzanillo township, the Navy said in a press release.

The Chinese, whose names weren’t disclosed, were traveling in a Kia SUV, the Navy said.

It adds that the arrests were the result of an investigation into the smuggling of the shells near the municipality, acquired illegally in the bay of Estero Alza.