Kolkata: Two persons were arrested at Kolkata airport on Tuesday for trying to smuggle 21 star-shelled tortoises to Chennai. Star tortoise is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to which India is a signatory. It is also a contra banned trade item under the Wild Life Protection Act,1972.
Ornamental fishes were also found in their possession. The police on patrol grew suspicious when they saw two men walking towards the cargo complex with a sack around 4am. When the men fumbled on being questioned, the police took them to the NSCBI Airport police station. On opening the sack, the cops found plastic bags containing goldfish in water. Below them were some white packets. On opening them, 21 star tortoises tumbled out to be six female that are larger in size and 15 male. The two men-Jadavpur resident Tapas Basak and Ekbalpore resident Md Irfan-were then taken into custody.
01/05/13 Times of India
