Kerala - Kochi   

Star tortoises seized in Kochi

Staff Reporter

The endangered species were being smuggled to Malaysia

ENDANDERED STARS: Star tortoises seized in Kochi on Tuesday.

KOCHI: The Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Kochi, seized live tortoises that were in the process of being smuggled to Malaysia from here. The star tortoises, an endangered species, were packed in cardboard cartons and a bag. A total of 723 tortoises, each weighing between 15 gm and 250 gm, were valued at Rs.36 lakhs in the international market, according to Preventive Customs officials.

Kather Meera, a native of Tirupathur in Sivagangai district in Tamil Nadu, was taken into custody in connection with the seizure. He was held on charges of attempting to smuggle the consignment in violation of Customs Act and Wildlife Protection Act.

The `star tortoises' 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 Rs.50-100. The carriers of these consignments are given free to-and-fro ticket and an amount of about Rs.2,000, the officials said.

The officials, on a tip-off, intercepted the person at a hotel in the city around 12.30 a.m. on Tuesday. The tortoises were to be carried as accompanied baggage on a flight to Colombo. The accused reportedly could not travel as his ticket was not confirmed. He made an attempt to take the consignment via Thiruvananthapuram, according to the officials.

The accused had apparently brought the tortoises from Chennai by bus. He admitted of having smuggled `star tortoises' on several earlier occasions.

India is becoming a transit point for illegal business of smuggling animals, according to P. Ayyam Perumal, Commissioner of Customs (Preventive). He said the creatures were being shipped to South East Asian countries, including Malaysia and Thailand. The tortoises are being kept as pets and for medical purposes in these countries. There is a belief among the people in these countries that the tortoises bring prosperity and luck to the owner. The tortoises fetch $40 to $250 in `pet markets' abroad, Mr. Perumal said. The `star tortoises' are protected under Wildlife Protection Act.

Mr. Perumal said that a very large racket is operating internationally. The Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate is taking necessary action to break the racket. The Commissionerate here is setting up a 24-hour control room where people can provide information helpful in busting illegal operations. He assured the people that the identity of the informants would be protected.

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