Malaysia: Turtle egg smuggling ring busted in Sandakan

The Star 17 Jul 16;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Marine Police crippled a major turtle egg smuggling syndicate after intercepting four pump boats which led to the seizure of 19,000 eggs in Sandakan.

State Marine Police chief Asst Comm Mohamad Madun said the seizure of turtle eggs with a street value exceeding RM30,000 was the largest so far in Sabah.

He said the seizure was the result of a special Marine Police operation to nab turtle egg smugglers in the Sandakan area.

Mohamad said three Marine Police vessels were involved in the operation in waters near Sungai Batu 2 at about 1.30am yesterday.

He said Marine Police personnel spotted four pump boats trying to speed off upon seeing the patrol vessels.

Mohamad said a 15-minute chase ensued resulting in the four vessels being seized and four boatmen aged between 21 and 49 years nabbed.

Also detained were eight suspected illegal immigrants between 17 and 63-years-old.

All are believed to be Filipino nationals who did not have any identification documents.

Mohamad said the four pump boat engines seized were worth about RM10,850.

In another development, Marine Police arrested two men aged 21 and 60 for suspected fish bombing activities in waters off Pulau Nunuyan at about 8.20am on Friday.

Mohamad said police recovered three bottles filled with chemicals and six detonators used for fish bombing.


Sabah police cripple turtle egg smuggling ring
RUBEN SARIO The Star 16 Jul 16;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah marine police have crippled a major turtle egg smuggling operation after intercepting four pump boats and seizing 19,000 eggs with a street value of RM30,000 in the east coast district of Sandakan.

State marine police chief Asst Comm Mohamad Madun said the seizure was the result of a operation to nab turtle egg smugglers in the Sandakan area.

He added that three marine police vessels were involved in the operation in waters near Sungai Batu 2 at about 1.30am on Saturday, when personnel spotted four pump boats which tried to speed off.

Mohamad said that the four boats were seized after a 15-minute chase that ended with the arrests of 12 people, aged between 17 and 63 years.

Mohamad said the police seized four pump boat engines are worth RM10,850.

Filipino smugglers found with 19,000 turtle eggs off Sabah coast
AWANG ALI OMAR New Straits Times 16 Jul 16;

SANDAKAN: A total of 19,000 turtle eggs were seized from Filipino smugglers here today.

Sabah Marine Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Madun said the eggs were found on board four pump boats - wooden vessels powered with modified water pumps - along with 12 Filipinos aged between seven and 63 off Sungai Batu Dua about 1.45am. Mohamad said acting on a tip off, a special operation was launched where three assault vessels were dispatched last night.

"The team spotted the pump boats around 1.30am and a chase ensued.

After a brief pursuit at sea, our men managed to intercept the boats," he said. The eggs, kept in sacks, were found in the boats.

Investigations will be conducted on the four skippers, he added. Turtles and its products are a totally protected species under Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and it is an offence to possess these animals or its products.

Offenders can be fined RM50,000 or jailed five years, or both, upon conviction.