SANDAKAN: The Marine Operations Force (MOF) have detained 12 illegal immigrants and seized 19,000 turtle eggs, believed to be smuggled to this district, from four pump boats in waters off Sungai Batu 2 near here yesterday.
Sabah Regional MOF commander ACP Mohamad Madun said in the 1.30am incident, MOF members who were patrolling in the area spotted the four boats acting suspiciously before they approached to conduct checks.
However, the MOF personnel had to give chase for about 15 minutes before they managed to intercept the pump boats, he said.
“Checks on the boats found they were laden with turtle eggs placed in sacks,” he said in a statement here today.
He said those detained were 12 Filipinos without personal identification including four skippers, aged between 17 and 63.
Mohamad said the seizure, worth RM30,400, was the biggest of its kind so far.
In another case, Mohamad said two Filipinos, aged 21 and 63, were arrested after the MOF seized fishing explosive materials in waters off Pulau Nunuyan near here at 8.20pm yesterday.
Among the items seized were three bottles containing ammonia fertiliser, six detonators and three spark fuses, he said.
He said the two men were being detained to facilitate investigations under the Explosives Act 1957. --BERNAMA