Bengaluru Customs officials rescue 3000 red-eared slider turtles

Close to the heels of nine venomous snakes and other wildlife rescued from a Thai flight, Bengaluru Customs officials on Wednesday recovered as many as 3000 red-eared slider turtles being smuggled from Malaysia into the city.

The officials, based on a tip off , caught two passengers identified as Gopinath Manivelan and Sudhakar Govindaswamy red handed. The duo had concealed the turtles in chocolate and cereal boxes kept in their travel bags after they landed at Kempegowda international airport.

The duo, according to the officials, were mules of an international wildlife smuggling racket, and their job was to fetch the consignment from Malaysia and hand it over to the person who waited for them outside the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

The duo were offered free travel and stay expenses besides pocket money, the police said.

The turtles, usually around 4 to 10 inches in size, are sold in the open market as pets.

The Customs officials sent the rescued turtles back to Kaula Lampur. The officials have registered a wildlife offence report.