113 tortoises rescued at Dhaka airport

Authorities recovered a total of 113 tortoises from two Indian nationals at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka last night.

The reptiles were being smuggled abroad, said a press release issued by the Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU) of Bangladesh Forest Department.

Acting on a tip off, a joint team of WCCU, Customs and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) conducted a raid near the Gate No. 6 (Departure gate) around 10:00pm yesterday.

The team found the tortoises (Geoclemys hamiltonii) in four bags.

A case was lodged with the Airport Police Station in this regard.