(MY) star tortoises

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Smuggler found with 1,460 star tortoises-New Straits Times*15 Sep 2006*

Elizabeth John <news

 

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*KUALA LUMPUR: Heavy luggage always spells trouble at airports, but for one

Malaysian traveller, it was a case of a thousand protected tortoises too

many.

*

Indian Customs officials arrested the ornamental fish trader on Tuesday

night after he checked in a stroller bag and suitcase stuffed with 1,460

Indian star tortoises.

 

It was the biggest single illegal consignment of the endangered tortoises

they had seen.

 

Customs officers stopped the Malaysian as he was headed for Immigration at

the Chennai airport, Indian news reports said.

 

He reportedly told them that his bags contained only his personal

belongings. Because he appeared nervous, the officers searched his baggage

and found the live tortoises worth RM300,000.

 

He has been handed over to the Forest Department for investigation.

 

The Malaysian could face several years behind bars if found guilty under

India's Wildlife Protection Act, said Forest Range officer K. S.

Sathyamoorthy.

 

This is the second time a Malaysian has been arrested in Chennai for

smuggling star tortoises. A year ago, another Malaysian was found with 350

star tortoises in his luggage, he said.

 

Judging from previous seizures, Malaysia is the main destination of star

tortoise smugglers, said Sathyamoorthy, who is handling the investigation

for the Chennai Wildlife Department.

 

Palm-sized, with pretty brown shells bearing beige star-like markings,

hatchlings fetch about RM80 in pet shops, while larger ones sell for about

RM150.

 

Trade in star tortoises is strictly regulated under Appendix II of the

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and

Fauna.

 

Their capture and sale is banned in India and Pakistan.