Smuggling bid foiled as Dhaka airport officials recover 925 turtles bound for Malaysia

Authorities find 145 star tortoises and 780 Indian roofed turtles in two suitcases belonging to a Malaysia-bound passenger

Authorities at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have seized 925 turtles being smuggled to Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur in two pieces of luggage.

The seizure took place around 6:30am on Tuesday at the departure terminal, said Inspector Abdullah As Sadiq of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit.

The passenger, identified as Mohammad Shaukat Ali Bhuiyan, 54, was booked on a US-Bangla Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur.

Inspector Sadiq said security staff detected turtle-like objects while scanning Bhuiyan’s luggage. When he was called for questioning, the passenger fled.

Officials from the Forest Department's Wildlife Crime Control Unit and the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Departmentthen then conducted a joint search.

They found 145 star tortoises in a green suitcase and 780 Indian roofed turtles in a blue suitcase. Together, the reptiles weighed around 58kg.

Biodiversity Officer Rubia Islam was present at the scene, along with other Forest Department officials and Civil Aviation Authority security personnel.

“These turtles were being trafficked from Bangladesh to Kuala Lumpur,” Inspector Sadiq said.

“This is a serious punishable offence under Sections 6 and 34(b) of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012, and Section 25-B of the Special Powers Act, 1974. A regular case has been filed with the Airport Police Station and efforts are under way to arrest Shaukat Ali Bhuiyan.”

He added that the rescued turtles had been placed into the custody of the Forest Department through an official seizure list.