Malaysia: Police crack bid to smuggle sea turtle eggs

The Star 6 Oct 18;

KOTA KINABALU: More than 2,000 turtle eggs were seized as marine police intercepted a foreign pump boat trying to sneak into Sandakan.

Marine police Region 4 acting commander Supt Mohd Nasir Othman said the skipper managed to dive into Batu Putih river and escape after a short chase at about 6.10am yesterday.

He said they seized the boat, its engine and over 2,000 turtle eggs stuffed in four bags with a street value of RM4,000.

“We were patrolling the area when they spotted the boat in the open sea. When we tried to flag down the boat for inspection, the skipper sped off triggering a high speed chase before we apprehended it,” he said.

The case will be investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.


Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/06/police-crack-bid-to-smuggle-turtle-eggs/#Psz5iIFiAuPHqY4i.99

Philippine boat with turtle eggs worth RM4,000 seized, smuggler escapes
muguntan vanar The Star 5 Oct 18;

KOTA KINABALU: More then 2,000 turtle eggs were seized after marine police patrol intercepted a southern Philippines registered pump boat trying to sneak into Sabah's east coast in Sandakan.

However, the suspect managed to dive into Batu Putih river and escaped after a short chase at around 6.10am, said Sandakan-based Marine Police Region 4 acting commander Supt Mohd Nasir Othman on Friday (Oct 5).

He said the 2,000 turtle eggs were found inside four bags and had a street value of RM4,000, which was more than double the value of the pump boat and its engine of RM1,800.

Supt Mohd Nasir said a four-men marine police patrol had spotted the boat heading from open sea into the Batu Putih river in Sandakan, and when they tried to approach the boat, the skipper sped off upriver, refusing to stop.


He said police suspected the turtle eggs were being smuggled into Sandakan for the clandestine trade in the markets.

Police have handed over the case to the Sabah Wildlife Department to investigate under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

Turtles are protected species and the sale of its eggs is illegal.