The Sri Lanka Customs has seized 206 live star tortoises, listed as endangered species, that were being smuggled to Malaysia in boxes labelled as dried seafood.
The Biodiversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Division of the Sri Lanka Customs seized the live tortoises at the Air Cargo Exports Terminal at the BIA yesterday (11).
The live tortoises, stuffed inside cloth sacks and packed in six boxes labelled as dried seafood, were being smuggled to Kuala Lumpur.
According to Customs officials, this is the largest seizure since 2015 when a bid to smuggle 124 tortoises was thwarted.
The Customs said Sri Lankan star tortoises are the same species (Geochelone Elegans) as that found in India and Pakistan but have a specific geographic identity.
According to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (section 40), attempt to export any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, coral or invertebrate, eggs, among others without the permission of the Director General of the Wildlife Conservation Department is an offence and also simultaneously violates the Customs Ordinance.
