India: Sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Thursday seized 1,438 star tortoises from a chocolate godown at Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu and arrested three men. The star tortoises were meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka via Rameswaram.

The accused have been identified as M Burhaan 30, R Ameen, 34, and S Syed, 37, all hailing from Bengaluru. Star tortoise trade has been banned in India under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The tortoises were found in nine travel bags and three boxes in a the godown near Rengammal Chatram.

(Source: The Times of India)