Two foreign vessels carrying a total of 17 tons of crabs have been stopped in the Pacific Ocean, near Russia's largest island of Sakhalin, a spokesman for the local customs service said on Friday according to RIA Novosti.
Two vessels, flying under Panamanian and Belizean flags, were stopped near the Tatar Strait, a channel dividing mainland Russia and Sakahlin Island.
"One vessel was carrying over seven tons of live crabs, while the other had over 10 tons," the spokesman said.
The vessels and their Russian crew have been escorted to the port of Nevelsk for further enquiries.