Customs prevent smuggling of endangered 'star tortoises' from Kochi

Kochi, Jul 11 (UNI) In a pre-dawn operation today, customs officials here prevented smuggling of 723 endangered 'star tortoises', worth nearly Rs 36 lakh in the international market, and arrested one person in this connection.

Customs Commissioner Ayyam Perumal said the officials of the Customs Preventive Commissionerate seized the tortoises, which had been brought here from Tamil Nadu, and were to be smuggled to Malaysia via Colombo.

One person, identified as Kather Mera, a native of Tirupathur, Shivagangai district of Tamil Nadu, was taken into custody for violation of the Customs Act, Wildlife Protection Act and CITES Declaration.

The accused brought the tortoises from Chennai by bus, stayed in different hotels and was intending to smuggle them to Malaysia through the Nedumbassery International Airport here.

He was intercepted at around 0030 hrs. The tortoises were packed in a trolley bag and in cardboard cartons.

Mr Perumal said India was becoming a transit point for illegal business of smuggling animals. The accused himself had admitted to having smuggled 'star tortoises' out of India on several previous occasions, he said.

These endangered creatures were being shipped to South-East Asian countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, for being kept as pets and for medicinal purposes. Their major use however was as a 'mascot' as this creature is believed to bring prosperity and luck to its owner, he said.

Weighing between 15 and 250 gms, the tortoises fetch between 40-250 US Dollor in pet 'markets' abroad.

Star Tortoises are protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act and prohibited item for export under the Customs Act and Foreign Trade Policy.

They are found in large numbers in the jungles of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. They are collected by local residents and sold to middlemen for anything between Rs 50 and Rs 100 and persons who act as carriers in smuggling the tortoises get Rs 2000 plus free to and fro air ticket.

Mr Perumal said it was understood that a very large racket was operating behind the scene.

UNI ARC VV SK HT1655