Located some 50 meters from the Ngurah Rai Highway on the eastern outskirts of Denpasar, the slaughter house has reportedly been in operation for some three decades.

The owner, 67-year-old I Made Kodi, said an average of two turtles were butchered each day to meet the demand for turtle delicacies from various parts of Denpasar and Badung regencies.

The slaughter house is now managed by Kodi's nephew, I Wayan Widnyana.

Kodi disclosed that he usually bought the live turtles from poachers in Tanjung Benoa village at prices ranging from Rp 200,000 to Rp 350,000.

"We can make around 20 karang (a traditional Balinese dish) out of one turtle and sell it for about Rp 30,000 per serving," he said.

The turtles, most of them green turtles (Chelonia mydas) which are protected by law, were kept at two buildings separated from the main house. They were tied with plastic ropes and were not being fed.

The seized turtles were brought to police headquarters in trucks.

The police's Special Crimes Unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Gede Artawan said the turtles would be released into the ocean on Wednesday.

Kodi and Widnyana will be charged with violating Article 55 of Law No.5/1990 on Natural Resources Protection and Conservation.