Staff Reporter :
Customs officials seized at least 130 turtles of a rare species from the city’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Friday morning.
However, no one was arrested in this connection, customs official said.
Farid Alam Mamun, Assistatant Commissioner of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department, said that customs authorities conducted a drive near Departure Gate No. 1 following information around 11:30am and seized two suitcases lying abandoned at a trolley containing the turtles.
“The turtles were wrapped in cloth and plastic, but their heads were exposed,” the customs
officials said. The turtles were about to be smuggled from the country, he said.
The Indian pond turtles would have been smuggled to Malaysia, in a Malaysian Airlines flight in the morning, said Ashim Malllick, Inspector of wildlife, Bangladesh Forest Department.
“Indian pond turtles are very popular in Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan and China, where they are used in soups and curry,” he said.
All the turtles are now under the care of Bangladesh Forest Department for taking to Bangabandhu Safari Park in Gazipur, Ashim said.
Customs officials seized at least 130 turtles of a rare species from the city’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Friday morning.
However, no one was arrested in this connection, customs official said.
Farid Alam Mamun, Assistatant Commissioner of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department, said that customs authorities conducted a drive near Departure Gate No. 1 following information around 11:30am and seized two suitcases lying abandoned at a trolley containing the turtles.
“The turtles were wrapped in cloth and plastic, but their heads were exposed,” the customs
officials said. The turtles were about to be smuggled from the country, he said.
The Indian pond turtles would have been smuggled to Malaysia, in a Malaysian Airlines flight in the morning, said Ashim Malllick, Inspector of wildlife, Bangladesh Forest Department.
“Indian pond turtles are very popular in Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan and China, where they are used in soups and curry,” he said.
All the turtles are now under the care of Bangladesh Forest Department for taking to Bangabandhu Safari Park in Gazipur, Ashim said.
