BENGALURU: Sixty Indian Star Tortoises – a threatened species – stuffed into a check-in bag and being smuggled from Bengaluru to Bangkok were rescued at Kempegowda International Airport by customs sleuths.
The suspect was arrested on charges of smuggling the protected wildlife species. KIA sources said the incident unfolded on Saturday night as the suspect, identified only as a 32-year-old man from Uttara Kannada, reached KIA to board Thai Airways flight FD138 to Bangkok.
As part of the pre-boarding procedures, the bags of departing passengers were screened. Airport officials were shocked to find one of the bags had a bunch of tortoises. They opened the checked-in bag to unearth 60 Indian Star Tortoises, which were fortunately alive despite being tightly packed in the bag amid clothes to avoid detection by authorities.
Expert: Tortoises being sourced by AP wildlife smuggling gangs
The suspect was scheduled to fly to Bangkok with a friend, who was unaware of the smuggling. Customs sleuths questioned the 32-year-old and ascertained he was attempting to smuggle the reptiles to Bangkok to be sold to buyers in Southeast Asian nations, sources added.
Bengaluru customs officials refused to comment on the first case of wildlife smuggling that has unfolded at KIA after nearly four years.
According to R Sharath Babu, a wildlife expert, Indian Star Tortoises are now being sourced by wildlife smuggling gangs from Podili region in AP after exploiting the coastal regions of Karnataka over the years. “Severe smuggling of the reptile over the years mainly from parts of Karnataka, has left it endangered.”
Customs booked the suspect for smuggling an endangered wildlife species. He has been sent to the Parappana Agrahara prison complex.
The suspect was arrested on charges of smuggling the protected wildlife species. KIA sources said the incident unfolded on Saturday night as the suspect, identified only as a 32-year-old man from Uttara Kannada, reached KIA to board Thai Airways flight FD138 to Bangkok.
As part of the pre-boarding procedures, the bags of departing passengers were screened. Airport officials were shocked to find one of the bags had a bunch of tortoises. They opened the checked-in bag to unearth 60 Indian Star Tortoises, which were fortunately alive despite being tightly packed in the bag amid clothes to avoid detection by authorities.
Expert: Tortoises being sourced by AP wildlife smuggling gangs
The suspect was scheduled to fly to Bangkok with a friend, who was unaware of the smuggling. Customs sleuths questioned the 32-year-old and ascertained he was attempting to smuggle the reptiles to Bangkok to be sold to buyers in Southeast Asian nations, sources added.
Bengaluru customs officials refused to comment on the first case of wildlife smuggling that has unfolded at KIA after nearly four years.
According to R Sharath Babu, a wildlife expert, Indian Star Tortoises are now being sourced by wildlife smuggling gangs from Podili region in AP after exploiting the coastal regions of Karnataka over the years. “Severe smuggling of the reptile over the years mainly from parts of Karnataka, has left it endangered.”
Customs booked the suspect for smuggling an endangered wildlife species. He has been sent to the Parappana Agrahara prison complex.