Over 8,500 Turtle Eggs Seized
By Amin Hosni

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Royal Customs and Excise Department and Halal Foods Control Section of the Ministry of Religious Affairs have jointly foiled an attempt to smuggle thousands of turtle eggs, known as ‘telur penyu’ locally, into the country yesterday near Kubah Maulana, Jalan Residency.

Eleven boxes containing 8,521 turtle eggs, at a market price of $4,260.50, were found and seized by the authorities.

Four officers from Halal Foods Control Section and five officers from the Preventive and Intelligence Section of Royal Customs and Excise Department led by the Assistant Customs Superintendent took part in the operation. A foreign male suspect, believed to be behind the smuggling of the turtle eggs, escaped on his boat, while the buyer, a local male, was apprehended but later released on bail bond.

The seized boxes containing the eggs are being held at the Royal Customs and Excise Department for evidence while further investigations are being carried out.

An attempt to smuggle turtle eggs into or out of the country is an offence under the World Life Protection Acts Chapter 102 Section 8 (1) Perintah Museum 2006 Chapter 140.

Turtle eggs were a local delicacy before they became illegal, but demand for the eggs is still high in the black market. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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