CHENNAI: Customs officials seized around 500 Red Eared Slider Turtles in Chennai airport from a passenger who arrived from Bangkok.

Based on intelligence that Red Eared Sliders and African Spurred Tortoises are being smuggled from Bangkok the customs officials intercepted Mohamed Mubeen of Pattukottai who arrived from Bangkok on Friday.

On examination of check-in luggage, the officials found he was carrying 484 Red Eared Slider Turtles and nine African Spurred Tortoises.

During the inquiry, the officials found that Ravi Kumar, who is posted as Havaldar in TSP VI Batalian in Madurai had asked Mubeen to bring those turtles to India.

Following that the team of officers went to Madurai and arrested Ravi Kumar and they found that he was a habitual offender who had already been arrested for illegal possession, transportation and trading of Indian Star Tortoise in February 2022 by the Andhra Pradesh Special Enforcement Bureau.

The customs officials arrested both of them and they were remanded in judicial custody and further investigation is on.