Four Indian nationals were detained in Malaysia for possession of more than 1,000 protected turtles, a senior official said today.

The suspects were arrested during two raids overnight in Kuala Lumpur and the nearby city of Petaling Jaya, Malaysian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar said.

The 1,011 Star tortoises, 23 Red Indian Roofed turtles and 36 Black Pond turtles were recovered late Monday during the raid in a house in Petaling Jaya, Wan Junaidi said.

The wildlife department raiding team said the four suspects did not have a permit to possess the animals.

Wan Junaidi said the four suspects are being investigated for keeping wildlife without a permit, which carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to RM100,000, or both simultaneously.

A source at the wildlife department said the animals could have been intended to be sold to restaurants for their meat.

- dpa