YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, September 14 (RIA Novosti) - Sakhalin border guards have detained a vessel carrying 1.5 metric tons of illegally caught live crab in Russia's economic zone, a coast guard spokeswoman said on Monday.

The Cambodian-flagged Slava vessel, with a crew of 12 Russians, two Koreans and seven Indonesians, also had fishing equipment onboard. The fishing permits, provided by the ship's crew, were thought to be forged.

"About 4,000 live crabs were released into the sea. Prevented losses stand at 1.6 million rubles ($53,500)," Natalya Yershova said.

The vessel was escorted to the port of Nevelsk for further investigation, its captain faces questioning.

Russia banned exports of live crab in May 2007, but large volumes are still smuggled out of the country, primarily to Japan and South Korea.