Site Logo

One tonne turtles seized in Odisha, 2 arrested 

PUBLISHED: LAST UPDATE:

In a significant operation, the Forest Department on Monday intercepted an inter-state tortoise smuggling racket at Rajulkonda, near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. Officials seized around one tonne of tortoises and arrested two individuals.

Arrested turtle smugglers

In one of the biggest hauls, the Forest Department on Monday busted an inter-state tortoise smuggling racket and seized around one ton of tortoises at Rajulkonda, on the Odisha- Andhra Pradesh border.
 

The sleuths also arrested two miscreants. 

Also Read: Over 2 quintals of ganja seized by cops after hot pursuit in Bhubaneswar; 2 peddlers escape

As per reports, the Forest Department officials were tipped off that a large number of tortoises are being smuggled from Narasinghapatna in Andhra Pradesh to Kalimela MV79 in Malkangiri. Soon, Chitrakonda ranger Banamali Nayak formed a team and intercepted a vehicle at Rajulkonda, on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. 

They carried out a thorough checking of the vehicle and seized tortoises weighing around one ton packed in 35 sacks.

A detailed investigation has been launched.

Otv advertisement
Loading more stories...