Star tortoises worth 4 lakh seized at Chenni airport

Chennai, Aug 2: Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized 450 live star tortoises, worth Rs four lakh in the international market, from a passenger bound for Kuala Lumpur via Colombo at the Anna international airport here.

Airport sources said that the passenger Abu Backer (37), hailing from the Mannady area of the city, was arrested on Friday, August 1 after the seizure was made. Acting on information that some items were being smuggled out of Chennai, DRI officials intercepted him when he was about to board the Sri Lankan Airways flight to Colombo, from where he was to board a connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur.

As he gave contradicting statements, DRI officials checked his suitcase and travel bag and found 450 live star tortoises, for which there is a huge demand in Malaysia for its medicinal value and also for aphrodisiacal qualities.

UNI