The Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) officials in the early hours of Friday detected and seized four bags containing a total of 199 live turtles.
The Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) officials in the early hours of Friday detected and seized four bags containing a total of 199 live turtles. The turtles are of two species - Indian Star Tortoise and Black Pond Turtle.
In the international market, they can fetch anywhere between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1 lakh.
AIU sources said that the turtles were seized from two passengers, Marwan Ali Hassan and Sultan Ibrahim Ali Alfaqi, who were travelling to UAE on a Fly Dubai flight. They tried to smuggle the reptiles in their registered baggage.
Deputy commissioner of AIU, Pradanyasheel Jumle, confirmed the incident and said, “Both passengers were handed over to the office of assistant wildlife wardens, Thane, for further action under WAP, 1972.”
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