Man nabbed with 3,000 turtle eggs off Sandakan

KOTA KINABALU: A man believed to be a smuggler was caught in the waters off Sandakan with 3,000 turtle eggs early Friday.

State marine police chief Asst Comm Mohd Yazib Abd Aziz said the suspect, a 40-year-old Filipino, was on a pump boat heading towards Kg Forest when marine police officers saw him.

"The officers at first saw an object in the water. As they approached it, they saw that it was a pump boat," he said.

Police gave chase when the suspect tried to flee in the 3.30am incident.

"Our men intercepted the pump boat and detained the suspect, who did not have any documents with him," ACP Yazib said.

Police also found 10 plastic bags containing 3,000 turtle eggs, believed smuggled from the Philippines for the local market here.

The eggs are worth about RM4,800.

Investigations are continuing under the Wildlife Rehabilitation Enactment 1997.