Malaysia seizes 330 exotic tortoises at airport

Authorities have seized 330 exotic tortoises from Madagascar that were being smuggled into Malaysia, AP reported.

The live tortoises, valued at $276,721, were packed into five boxes and labeled as stones, said Deputy customs director Abdull Wahid Sulong. He said 325 Indian Star tortoises and five Ploughshare tortoises, usually kept as pets, arrived via Etihad Airways from Antananarivo Airport in Madagascar on Sunday.

Acting on a tip, customs officials found the boxes at the Kuala Lumpur airport cargo warehouse on the same day, Abdull Wahid said.

Importing exotic tortoises requires a special permit from Malaysia’s Wildlife Department. No arrests were made and the case is still under investigation, Abdull Wahid said.

Airport customs officials two weeks ago seized African pangolin scales worth $2.1 million at the airport cargo warehouse. Last month, they confiscated 18 rhino horns worth $3.1 million believed to have been flown in from Mozambique and declared as art objects.

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By: David Beasley Earth.com Staff Writer

Source: AP