SANDAKAN: Marine police foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,850 turtle eggs in waters off Kampung Forest here this morning.
A patrol unit taking part in Op Pensura intercepted a pump boat, which appeared to be coming from the direction of the Philippines, at 3.30am.
The vessel tried to flee but got stuck in an area of shallow water.
Sabah marine police region 4 commander Assistant Commissioner Mohd Yazib Abd Aziz said the skipper jumped into the sea and disappeared.
“We found five gunny sacks of turtle eggs worth RM5,130 believed to be smuggled from a neighbouring country.
“The enforcement officers seized a wooden boat and a 13-horse power engine,” he said, adding that the seized items had been taken to the marine police base here for further investigation under the Conservation Wildlife Enactment 1997.