Marine cops seize 4,000 turtle eggs being smuggled into Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Marine police seized some 4,000 turtle eggs being smuggled into Sabah’s eastern Sandakan area from the Philippines.

However, two suspects managed to escape marine police patrols and fled when they were approached in shallow waters around Laut Sungai Batu 3 in Sandakan during the wee hours of Saturday (July 4).

Sandakan Marine Police commander Deputy Supt Rusdin Banin said that a marine police team noticed two pump boats entering the Sungai Batu 3 area from the open sea.

“On realising the presence of our men, the two skippers abandoned their boats and fled in the cover of darkness, ” he said.

A marine policeman showing the 4,000 turtle eggs seized by marine police patrol in Sandakan early Saturday.

He said their personnel could not locate the suspects who managed to escape into the swamp area.

He said on checking the green pump boats, they found the turtle eggs in eight gunny sacks and believed that the boats were from neighbouring southern Philippines.

DSP Rusdin said that the eggs were handed over to the Sandakan Wildlife Department for further investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

The turtle eggs, which are listed as endangered, had a street value of RM11,900.

On Friday (July 3), Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus ordered 21-year-old Alsirad Samad to one year in jail and a RM200,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to possession of turtle eggs. He is believed to have offered the eggs for sale through online platforms.

He is expected to spend another two years in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

According to the facts of the case, Alsirad was found to have in his possession 20 green turtle eggs (Chelonia mydas) which is a totally protected species under the Wildlife Preservation Enactment 1997.

The offence under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 provides for a fine of between RM50,000, and RM250,000 or a jail term of between a year and five years, or both, upon conviction.