The accused identified as Shameem Ahmad was yesterday arrested and 113 tortoises of rare species Lissemys Punctata were recovered from his possession, they said.
Shameem told police that he got the tortoises from one Shareef in Gonda district and was planning to smuggle the consignment to Kolkata, police said.
West Bengal and Gonda police were being contacted to arrest associates of the nabbed accused, they added.