4,000 turtle eggs seized from smugglers in Sandakan

KOTA KINABALU: Some 4,000 turtle eggs being smuggled into Sabah’s eastern Sandakan area from neighbouring Philippines have been seized by the marine police.

However, two suspects in the boats with the eggs managed to flee when authorities approached them in shallow waters around Laut Sungai Batu 3 in Sandakan early yesterday.

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

“Realising the presence of our men, the two skippers abandoned their boats and fled under the cover of darkness, ” he said, adding that the suspects managed to escape into the swamp.

DSP Rusdin said upon checking the boats, they found the turtle eggs placed in eight gunny sacks. The eggs were believed to be from southern Philippines.

DSP Rusdin said the seized eggs had been handed over to the Sandakan Wildlife Department for further investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

The turtle eggs, with the species listed as endangered, have a street value of RM11,900.

On Friday, Sessions Court judge Elsie Primus sentenced 21-year-old Alsirad Samad to a year in jail and fined him RM200,000 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.