PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, September 9 (RIA Novosti) - Police in Kamchatka in Russia's Far East have seized over two metric tons of poached red caviar early on Wednesday, a police spokesman said.

"A vessel carrying 2.2 metric tons of salmon caviar was detained on Wednesday in the Kamchatka River," the source said.

The vessel's 25-year-old owner failed to provide documents verifying the legality of the delicacy. A probe into the incident has been launched.

During last year's anti-poaching operations, police seized over 61 metric tons of red caviar and 525 metric tons of salmon were seized. A total of 107 vessels were confiscated.

Salmon caviar, or red caviar, is not as highly prized as the black caviar from sturgeon.