Trichy: Five passengers, who were about to board a flight to Bangkok from the Trichy international airport were arrested by immigration authorities on Tuesday and 492 spotted black terrapin pond tortoises were seized from them.
All these years, Trichy airport has witnessed several instances of gold smuggling. But this was the first time that it witnessed smuggling of more than 400 tortoises. In 2012, 200 star tortoises were seized by the immigration authorities.
The seizure was handed over to the forest authorities. The arrested were booked under the Wildlife Act for trying to smuggle tortoises.
District forest authorities said the five were identified as Ahmed Kabir, 46, from Illaiyangudi in Sivaganga district, Ahmed Badhusha Marika, 40, from Madurai, Mohammad Salim, 28, from Avudayar Kovil in Pudukottai district, Sayed Ahmed, 58, from Illayankudi in Sivagangai district and Mohammed Iqbal, 42, from Thiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram district.
They were used as carriers as none of them were aware of the material they were carrying in their luggage. On scanning the luggage, the immigration authorities found the tortoises.
25/03/15 Times of India
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All these years, Trichy airport has witnessed several instances of gold smuggling. But this was the first time that it witnessed smuggling of more than 400 tortoises. In 2012, 200 star tortoises were seized by the immigration authorities.
The seizure was handed over to the forest authorities. The arrested were booked under the Wildlife Act for trying to smuggle tortoises.
District forest authorities said the five were identified as Ahmed Kabir, 46, from Illaiyangudi in Sivaganga district, Ahmed Badhusha Marika, 40, from Madurai, Mohammad Salim, 28, from Avudayar Kovil in Pudukottai district, Sayed Ahmed, 58, from Illayankudi in Sivagangai district and Mohammed Iqbal, 42, from Thiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram district.
They were used as carriers as none of them were aware of the material they were carrying in their luggage. On scanning the luggage, the immigration authorities found the tortoises.
25/03/15 Times of India
