SUNDAY’s police apprehension of a multicab for lack of a permit yielded 20 sacks of rare helmet shells in Lapu-Lapu City.
The cargo of protected bullmouth helmet shells (Cypraecassis rufa), locally known as budjong, was known during yestedray’s inventory by the City Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council.
Sacks of common snail shells were just used on top to hide the rare seashells in the cargo.
SPO1 Jomar Ybañez who led the operation of Task Force Kalikasan said the rare shells came from Surigao City and were brought to Bohol province before reaching Lapu-Lapu City.
Two men who were apprehended with the cargo were on their way to drop the goods near Parkmall in Mandaue City where their buyer was waiting.
The seashells were to be exported to Russia, according to the police.
The suspects said they were just hired to pick up the sacks of snail shells at sitio Malingin in barangay Punta Engano and deliver them to Parkmall where a Chinese buyer was waiting.
They did not name their contact or the buyer.
Fishery Administrative Order 208 prohibits the taking or catching of bullmouth helmet shells.
Violators face 12 to 20 years imprisonment or a fine of P120,000 or both, at the discretion of the court.
Avelino Serbella and Reynaldo Alo were detained in the Lapu-Lapu City detention cell pending the filing of charges against them. /Correspondents, Fe Marie D. Dumaboc and Norman V. Mendoza