Sneaky legislation and a media beat-up are being blamed by the Torres Strait Regional Authority for a Queensland government investigation into an alleged illegal trade in turtle and dugong meat.
No charges were laid after the Christmas period operation at Cairns airport and on Cape York by state and federal police.
Torres Strait islanders say they felt intimidated when questioned by police and will lodge formal complaints.
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Last year the state government amended laws making it illegal from September to take turtle and dugong meat outside of the communities where it was caught.
Torres Strait Regional Authority Chair Joseph Elu told Queensland correspondent Stefan Armbruster there is lots of talk but little evidence of a black market.
