SANDAKAN: Marine police here foiled an attempt to smuggle in some 3,000 turtle eggs, worth RM4,800 with the arrest of a Filipino here, today.
The 3,000 eggs were found packed in five gunny sacks and 10 plastic bags, believed to be brought in from the Philippines.
State marine police commander Assistant Commissioner Mohd Yazib Abdul Aziz said marine patrol personnel spotted a suspicious pump boat trying to enter the Kampung Forest waters here at 3.30am.
“My men chased the boat and managed to intercept it. There was only the boat skipper on board and we detained him.
“Upon further inspection, it was found that the boat was loaded with bags of turtle eggs. We believe the eggs were meant to be sold here,” he said
Mohd Yazib said the suspect hails from Kampung Limau Limau Taganak in the southern Philippines and no travel documents, were found on him.
He said police also confiscated the pumpboat with its 13 horse-power engine worth RM2,500.
The suspect is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
