Star tortoises, gold seized from passengers

Customs Officials today seized more than 450 Indian star tortoises and one kg of gold from two passengers at the international airport here.
The tortoises, kept in bags, were seized from a passenger who was to board a flight to Sri Lanka on his way to Bangkok, airport sources said.
The accused, hailing from Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu, was taken into custody on charges of trying to smuggle the star tortoise stated to be much in demand in the pet trade market.
The accused, suspected to be a carrier, told the officials that the bag was handed over to him by one person at the airport.

Star tortoises are not allowed to be exported as they are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.
In an another seizure, officials recovered one kg of gold from the possession of a passenger who arrived here from Mali.
On suspicion, officials conducted a search and found gold in his possession, the sources said.