Asia-Pacific News
Malaysian police seize 10,000 smuggled turtle eggs
Nov 3, 2008, 6:25 GMT
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian police have seized about 10,000 turtle eggs believed to have been smuggled into the country from the Philippines, an official news report said Monday.
The eggs, which were stored in 20 sacks, were seized after police spotted four men carrying goods from their boat onto a beach late Sunday in the eastern state of Sabah on Borneo, said district marine police chief Muhammad Sallam Spawi.
The suspects fled on a boat when they saw the police, leaving behind the eggs, he said.
'The eggs are estimated to be worth 28,000 ringgit,' or 8,485 dollars, Muhamad Sallam was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.
He said the eggs are believed to have been collected from several islands in the Philippines, adding that the seizure was the biggest this year.
'This syndicate is believed to be headed by a foreigner who uses the locals to sell the eggs illegally,' Muhamad Sallam said.
Despite campaigns educating locals to refrain from collecting, selling or buying eggs of the endangered leatherback turtle, egg poaching continues to be a problem in coastal areas in Sabah and neighbouring Sarawak state.
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