Chennai: Air Customs officials at the Chennai International Airport arrested a man who tried to smuggle 160 star tortoises to Malaysia. While they were checking passengers boarding a flight to Kuala Lumpur, the security officials got suspicious of two cardboard boxes carried by a Chennai man. When they asked what was in the boxes, the man, who was travelling to Malaysia on a tourist visa, claimed it contained rice, dal, etc.
However, the officials found that one of the boxes was slightly moving, which strengthened their suspicion. When they opened the box, it was filled with live tortoises. The security personnel then handed over the passenger and the tortoises to the Customs officials. During interrogation, the man reportedly told the officials that he had bought the tortoises from a breeder in Andhra Pradesh for Rs 100. In Malaysia, where they are used as ornamental animals and are also believed to have medicinal properties, they are sold for at least Rs 5,000. Since these turtles are protected under the Turtle Wildlife Conservation Act and their export is prohibited, the man has been arrested. The turtles will be handed over to the Guindy National Park or the Aringnar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur. Further investigation is underway.
