SANDAKAN: The district Wildlife Department seized 3,011 turtle eggs meant to be smuggled to the west coast at the main bus terminal here this morning.
District wildlife officer Hussien Miun said his party received a public tip-off at around 8am on three boxes believed to be filled with the eggs.
Initial inspection indicated that the eggs were to be delivered to Kota Marudu using an express bus service on the Sandakan-Kudat route.
"Our team conducted an investigation, and even though there is no record of the sender, we received information about the recipient.
"This is the first turtle egg seizure recorded involving a smuggling attempt using public transportation. We believe this is the modus operandi practised by irresponsible parties to market the eggs in the west coast area," he added.