2 men held with over 1,900 tortoises worth Rs 60 lakh

Two persons were arrested today and over 1,900 tortoises, worth Rs 60 lakh, which were being smuggled to West Bengal from Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur district, recovered from their possession here, police said.
Acting on a tip off, police intercepted a vehicle near Dafi Toll Plaza in Lanka police station area and nabbed two men with 1,959 tortoises worth Rs 60 lakh value in International market, they said.
The two men have been identified as Raju and Ajay, both hailing from Sultanpur, police said.
They were taking the consignmentof thetortoises in 43 sacks from Sultanpur in a pickup van, they said.

An FIR has been registered against the two men and further interrogation of the two accused is underway, police said.