6,000 rare turtles seized from passenger's baggage

Around 6,000 rare red eared turtles were seized from the baggage of a passenger, who arrived here from Singapore, by Air Customs Intelligence Personnel.

Around 6,000 rare red eared turtles were seized from the baggage of a passenger, who arrived here from Singapore, by Air Customs Intelligence Personnel.

HT Image

The tiny turtles, some of them in critical condition, were found packed in two suitcases of the passenger, Abdul Rahim Naina Muhammed (44) of Chennai, who arrived by a Silk Air flight late last night.

The man was intercepted by customs intelligence personnel when he was trying to leave the airport through the green channel, Deputy Commissioner (Customs) C Madhavan said.

Airport sources said the turtles, worth around Rs 2.40 lakh, would be re-exported to Singapore since Kochi International Airport is not a designated airport to import such live items.