The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs on Wednesday seized 707 Red-eared Slider turtles from a passenger who had arrived from Bangkok at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata and arrested him for allegedly smuggling the exotic species into India, officials aware of the matter said.
The passenger, a resident of Chennai, was intercepted at the airport after he crossed the green channel. Officials said the turtles were found in his check-in baggage.
“A passenger, in his mid 40s, was held with 707 Red-eared Slider turtles at the NSCBI airport in Kolkata after he landed from a flight coming from Bangkok. He was arrested under the Customs Act, Wildlife Protection Act and CITES. Investigation is going on,” said a senior Customs official.
Red-eared Slider turtles are native to parts of the United States and northern Mexico and are widely traded as pets. However, they are considered one of the world’s most invasive species because of the threat they pose to local biodiversity.
Officials said the passenger was intercepted based on spot profiling carried out with the help of data analytics.
“He was intercepted on the basis of spot profiling which is done with the help of data analytics. He was carrying an over-sized baggage. After he was intercepted upon arrival at NSCBI, the check-in baggage was passed through the X-Ray machine which revealed that there were live turtles,” the official said.
{{/usCountry}}“He was intercepted on the basis of spot profiling which is done with the help of data analytics. He was carrying an over-sized baggage. After he was intercepted upon arrival at NSCBI, the check-in baggage was passed through the X-Ray machine which revealed that there were live turtles,” the official said.
{{/usCountry}}According to officials, Red-eared Slider turtles fall under the category of invasive alien species (IAS), which are animals or plants introduced outside their natural habitat and can harm native biodiversity, ecosystem services and, in some cases, human well-being.
Experts consider invasive alien species among the biggest threats to biodiversity globally, with the potential to disrupt ecosystems and affect food security.